CVE-2021-3195Network attack vector

Arbitrary file creation via unrestricted dumpwallet path

Published Jan 21, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Improper path restriction in Bitcoin Core 0.21.0 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to create server-side files via dumpwallet RPC. The dumpwallet handler accepts an absolute or relative filename and writes wallet-key data there without confining the path to the Bitcoin data directory. RPC access and filesystem permission as the bitcoind account are required, existing files cannot be overwritten, and the project disputes that this behavior violates Bitcoin Core's security model.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability1.18%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper path restriction in Bitcoin Core 0.21.0 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to create server-side files via dumpwallet RPC. The dumpwallet handler accepts an absolute or relative filename and writes wallet-key data there without confining the path to the Bitcoin data directory. RPC access and filesystem permission as the bitcoind account are required, existing files cannot be overwritten, and the project disputes that this behavior violates Bitcoin Core's security model.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-3195
Published
Jan 21, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-20
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 21, 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 privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

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

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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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation

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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