CVE-2021-32001Network attack vector

Cluster key disclosure via empty-string key derivation

Published Jul 28, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Weak bootstrap encryption in SUSE Rancher K3s and RKE2 affected releases allows datastore users to decrypt cluster keying material. During tokenless cluster creation, the server passes the empty raw token value to PBKDF2 instead of the generated token passphrase, producing a predictable AES-GCM key. Exploitation requires read access to the external datastore or a backup and exposes certificate-authority private keys and secrets-encryption material.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.30%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Weak bootstrap encryption in SUSE Rancher K3s and RKE2 affected releases allows datastore users to decrypt cluster keying material. During tokenless cluster creation, the server passes the empty raw token value to PBKDF2 instead of the generated token passphrase, producing a predictable AES-GCM key. Exploitation requires read access to the external datastore or a backup and exposes certificate-authority private keys and secrets-encryption material.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-32001
Published
Jul 28, 2021
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
NeuVector
Product
Rancher
Classifications
CWE-311, T1552.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 28, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 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=K3s <=v1.19.12+k3s1, v1.20.8+k3s1, v1.21.2+k3s1
  2. Affected versionversion=RKE2 <=v1.19.12+rke2r1, v1.20.8+rke2r1, v1.21.2+rke2r1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

NeuVector · Rancherversion=K3s <=v1.19.12+k3s1, v1.20.8+k3s1, v1.21.2+k3s1; version=RKE2 <=v1.19.12+rke2r1, v1.20.8+rke2r1, v1.21.2+rke2r1

Published CVSS scores

6.5SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
4.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:N/A:N
6.8Rancher RKE2CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.8k3s-ioCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-311Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data
T1552.004Private Keys

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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