CVE-2021-32728Network attack vector

Encrypted-data disclosure via unmatched public key

Published Aug 18, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Improper certificate validation in Nextcloud Desktop Client before 3.3.0 allows attackers to read encrypted data via a malicious public key. During E2EE setup, ClientSideEncryption accepts the server-supplied public certificate without verifying that it matches the downloaded private key. Exploitation requires a malicious or compromised Nextcloud instance; affected clients then encrypt synchronized data for the attacker's key.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.85%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper certificate validation in Nextcloud Desktop Client before 3.3.0 allows attackers to read encrypted data via a malicious public key. During E2EE setup, ClientSideEncryption accepts the server-supplied public certificate without verifying that it matches the downloaded private key. Exploitation requires a malicious or compromised Nextcloud instance; affected clients then encrypt synchronized data for the attacker's key.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-32728
Published
Aug 18, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Nextcloud GmbH
Product
Nextcloud Security Advisories
Classifications
CWE-295
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 18, 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=< 3.3.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Nextcloud GmbH · Nextcloud Security Advisoriesversion=< 3.3.0

Published CVSS scores

4.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:N/A:N
6.5GitHub, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-295Improper Certificate Validation

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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