CVE-2021-36230Network attack vector

Organization-owner escalation via run-token authorization bypass

Published Jul 20, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Incorrect authorization in HashiCorp Terraform Enterprise 202106-1 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to become organization owners. The API authorization layer accepts a workspace run token for organization user-invitation requests instead of restricting it to authorized workspace state operations. Plan access to any workspace supplies the required token, and the resulting privilege escalation grants organization-owner control.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.95%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Incorrect authorization in HashiCorp Terraform Enterprise 202106-1 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to become organization owners. The API authorization layer accepts a workspace run token for organization user-invitation requests instead of restricting it to authorized workspace state operations. Plan access to any workspace supplies the required token, and the resulting privilege escalation grants organization-owner control.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-36230
Published
Jul 20, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-863, T1098
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 20, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

6.5NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P
8.8NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-863Incorrect Authorization
T1098Account Manipulation

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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo