CVE-2021-3621Network attack vector

Root access via sssctl shell injection

Published Dec 23, 2021 · Updated Nov 3, 2025

OS command injection in SSSD before 2.6.0 allows attackers to gain root access through crafted logs-fetch or cache-expire arguments. The sssctl_cache_expire and sssctl_logs_fetch paths concatenate user arguments into a command string passed to sssctl_run_command, which invokes system(). Exploitation requires a root user to run the crafted command, such as through a delegated sudo rule; no default exploitable configuration is known.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability2.52%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

OS command injection in SSSD before 2.6.0 allows attackers to gain root access through crafted logs-fetch or cache-expire arguments. The sssctl_cache_expire and sssctl_logs_fetch paths concatenate user arguments into a command string passed to sssctl_run_command, which invokes system(). Exploitation requires a root user to run the crafted command, such as through a delegated sudo rule; no default exploitable configuration is known.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-3621
Published
Dec 23, 2021
Updated
Nov 3, 2025
Vendor
Fedora Project
Product
SSSD
Classifications
CWE-77, CWE-78, T1059.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 23, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 3, 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=sssd 2.6.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Fedora Project · SSSDversion=sssd 2.6.0

Published CVSS scores

8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.3NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

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-77Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
T1059.004Unix Shell

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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