CVE-2021-36260Known exploitationPublic exploitNetwork attack vector

Unauthenticated root command execution via XML payload

Published Sep 22, 2021 · Updated Oct 21, 2025

OS command injection in Hikvision camera web servers allows remote attackers to execute commands as root through a crafted HTTP request. The /SDK/webLanguage handler passes shell syntax embedded in an XML language value to the underlying command processor without adequate validation. No authentication or user interaction is required, and successful exploitation grants control of the affected device.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability99.87%
Next 30 days · Nov 1, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

OS command injection in Hikvision camera web servers allows remote attackers to execute commands as root through a crafted HTTP request. The /SDK/webLanguage handler passes shell syntax embedded in an XML language value to the underlying command processor without adequate validation. No authentication or user interaction is required, and successful exploitation grants control of the affected device.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-36260
Published
Sep 22, 2021
Updated
Oct 21, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-78, T1190, T1059.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 22, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 21, 2025Record 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 privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

8.8HikvisionCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C
9.8HikvisionCVSS: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.

Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.

Daily unique IPsShadowserver observations through Sep 28, 2026. Gaps indicate unavailable data.
Sep 22, 2026Sep 28, 2026
View daily counts
Reporting dayUnique IPs
Sep 22, 20267
Sep 23, 20268
Sep 24, 202626
Sep 25, 202616
Sep 26, 202617
Sep 27, 20268
Sep 28, 20267
Latest reporting daySep 28, 2026
Latest daily unique IPs7
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationReported
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application
T1059.004Unix Shell

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Reported exploitation

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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