CVE-2021-33990Network attack vector

Unauthenticated file upload via CKEditor endpoint

Published Apr 16, 2023 · Updated Feb 13, 2025

Improper access control in Liferay Portal 6.2.5 allows remote attackers to upload files through a CKEditor file-manager request. The published script only requests frmfolders.html and builds Command=FileUpload parameters; it never sends an upload or shows that the server accepts one. Liferay disputes the claim because endpoint accessibility alone does not establish unauthorized file creation, so the reported consequence remains unverified.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability11.92%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper access control in Liferay Portal 6.2.5 allows remote attackers to upload files through a CKEditor file-manager request. The published script only requests frmfolders.html and builds Command=FileUpload parameters; it never sends an upload or shows that the server accepts one. Liferay disputes the claim because endpoint accessibility alone does not establish unauthorized file creation, so the reported consequence remains unverified.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-33990
Published
Apr 16, 2023
Updated
Feb 13, 2025
Vendor
Liferay
Product
Liferay Portal
Classifications
CWE-281, CWE-78
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 16, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 13, 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=6.2.5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Liferay · Liferay Portalversion=6.2.5

Published CVSS scores

9.8CISA-ADPCVSS: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-281Improper Preservation of Permissions
CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')

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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