CVE-2021-31817

Database credential disclosure via plaintext configuration logging

Published Jul 8, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Cleartext credential storage in Octopus Server 2020.6.x and 2021.1.x allows attackers to read an external SQL database password. Initial Linux-container configuration writes the supplied database password into OctopusServer.txt without redaction or encryption. Exposure requires access to that log and occurs only when an external SQL database is configured.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.86%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Cleartext credential storage in Octopus Server 2020.6.x and 2021.1.x allows attackers to read an external SQL database password. Initial Linux-container configuration writes the supplied database password into OctopusServer.txt without redaction or encryption. Exposure requires access to that log and occurs only when an external SQL database is configured.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-31817
Published
Jul 8, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Octopus Deploy
Product
Octopus Server
Classifications
CWE-312, T1552.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 8, 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=2020.6.4671 <unspecified
  2. Affected versionversion=2021.1.7149 <unspecified
  3. Affected versionversion=unspecified <2020.6.5146
  4. Affected versionversion=unspecified <2021.1.7316

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Octopus Deploy · Octopus Serverversion=2020.6.4671 <unspecified; version=2021.1.7149 <unspecified; version=unspecified <2020.6.5146; version=unspecified <2021.1.7316

Published CVSS scores

5.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N
7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

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)
Vectorlocal
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-312Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information
T1552.001Unsecured Credentials: Credentials In Files

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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