CVE-2021-36357Network attack vector

Timestamp-check bypass via endian truncation

Published Oct 22, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Numeric truncation in OpenPOWER skiboot 2.6 firmware allows attackers to bypass secure-variable timestamp checks via crafted update data. The unpack_timestamp() function in libstb/secvar/backend/edk2-compat-process.c applies le32_to_cpu() to the 16-bit year field and stores the converted result in a uint16_t, discarding significant bits. Exploitation requires a secure-variable update with an attacker-controlled timestamp; the published record does not specify any further consequence of bypassing the ordering check.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability1.18%
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

Numeric truncation in OpenPOWER skiboot 2.6 firmware allows attackers to bypass secure-variable timestamp checks via crafted update data. The unpack_timestamp() function in libstb/secvar/backend/edk2-compat-process.c applies le32_to_cpu() to the 16-bit year field and stores the converted result in a uint16_t, discarding significant bits. Exploitation requires a secure-variable update with an attacker-controlled timestamp; the published record does not specify any further consequence of bypassing the ordering check.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-36357
Published
Oct 22, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-681
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 22, 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 privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
9.8NIST NVDCVSS: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-681Incorrect Conversion between Numeric Types

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