CVE-2021-36778Network attack vector

Repository credential disclosure via cross-origin forwarding

Published May 2, 2022 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Incorrect authorization in Rancher 2.5.0 through 2.5.11 and 2.6.0 through 2.6.2 allows remote attackers to obtain repository credentials. The Helm chart downloader forwards a private repository's HTTP Authorization header across redirects or to externally hosted chart icons without enforcing a same-origin hostname match. Exposure requires configured private-repository credentials and an attacker-controlled redirect target or external icon host; the leaked secret is the base64-encoded Authorization header.

CVSS severity7.3
High
EPSS probability0.74%
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 Rancher 2.5.0 through 2.5.11 and 2.6.0 through 2.6.2 allows remote attackers to obtain repository credentials. The Helm chart downloader forwards a private repository's HTTP Authorization header across redirects or to externally hosted chart icons without enforcing a same-origin hostname match. Exposure requires configured private-repository credentials and an attacker-controlled redirect target or external icon host; the leaked secret is the base64-encoded Authorization header.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-36778
Published
May 2, 2022
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
NeuVector
Product
Rancher
Classifications
CWE-863, T1552
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 2, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 17, 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=Rancher <2.5.12
  2. Affected versionversion=Rancher <2.6.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

NeuVector · Rancherversion=Rancher <2.5.12; version=Rancher <2.6.3

Published CVSS scores

7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
7.3GitHub Security Advisory maintained by rancher/rancherCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L

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-863Incorrect Authorization
T1552Unsecured Credentials

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