CVE-2021-31822

Local privilege escalation via writable systemd service file

Published Nov 24, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Local privilege escalation in Octopus Tentacle before 6.1.1116 allows local users to gain root access through a systemd unit file. The Linux installer creates /etc/systemd/system/.service with permissions that let unprivileged users alter its root-executed directives. Exploitation requires local unprivileged access to a Linux host and takes effect when systemd executes the attacker-modified service.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.21%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Local privilege escalation in Octopus Tentacle before 6.1.1116 allows local users to gain root access through a systemd unit file. The Linux installer creates /etc/systemd/system/.service with permissions that let unprivileged users alter its root-executed directives. Exploitation requires local unprivileged access to a Linux host and takes effect when systemd executes the attacker-modified service.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-31822
Published
Nov 24, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Octopus Deploy
Product
Octopus Tentacle
Classifications
CWE-276, T1543.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 24, 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=3.15.4 <unspecified
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <6.1.1116

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Octopus Deploy · Octopus Tentacleversion=3.15.4 <unspecified; version=unspecified <6.1.1116

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.6NIST NVDAV:L/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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-276Incorrect Default Permissions
T1543.002Create or Modify System Process: Systemd Service

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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