CVE-2021-3148Network attack vector

Remote command execution via quote-confused shell construction

Published Feb 27, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Command injection in SaltStack Salt before 3002.5 allows remote attackers to execute commands through crafted Salt API web requests. In salt.utils.thin.gen_thin(), JSON-serialized extra_mods data is placed inside a single-quoted shell command, so an embedded single quote truncates the intended argument and injects shell syntax. The Salt API must reach the Salt-SSH thin-generation path; successful exploitation runs attacker-supplied commands with the Salt service's privileges.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability8.25%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in SaltStack Salt before 3002.5 allows remote attackers to execute commands through crafted Salt API web requests. In salt.utils.thin.gen_thin(), JSON-serialized extra_mods data is placed inside a single-quoted shell command, so an embedded single quote truncates the intended argument and injects shell syntax. The Salt API must reach the Salt-SSH thin-generation path; successful exploitation runs attacker-supplied commands with the Salt service's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-3148
Published
Feb 27, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-77, T1059.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 27, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-77Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
T1059.004Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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