CVE-2021-33226Network attack vector

Disputed code execution via status configuration evaluation

Published Feb 17, 2023 · Updated Mar 18, 2025

The CVE describes code execution in SaltStack Salt 3003 and earlier, allowing remote attackers to abuse the status.custom function. The implementation reads administrator-controlled status keys, extracts the segment after the dot, appends parentheses, and passes the result to Python eval. SUSE classifies the report as invalid because remote attackers cannot influence that configuration-derived input, so the claimed code execution is not reachable through the stated vector.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability1.64%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

The CVE describes code execution in SaltStack Salt 3003 and earlier, allowing remote attackers to abuse the status.custom function. The implementation reads administrator-controlled status keys, extracts the segment after the dot, appends parentheses, and passes the result to Python eval. SUSE classifies the report as invalid because remote attackers cannot influence that configuration-derived input, so the claimed code execution is not reachable through the stated vector.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-33226
Published
Feb 17, 2023
Updated
Mar 18, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-120
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 17, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 18, 2025Record 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 privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

0.0SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:N
9.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-120Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')

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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