CVE-2021-37023Network attack vector

Unauthenticated media file access via path traversal

Published Nov 23, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Improper access control in Huawei HarmonyOS 2.0 allows remote attackers to read and write media files via network requests. The affected path-handling logic permits traversal into non-distributed directories instead of enforcing directory boundaries. No authentication is required, so any network attacker able to reach the device can alter or disclose media files, with no evidence of broader system compromise.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.58%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper access control in Huawei HarmonyOS 2.0 allows remote attackers to read and write media files via network requests. The affected path-handling logic permits traversal into non-distributed directories instead of enforcing directory boundaries. No authentication is required, so any network attacker able to reach the device can alter or disclose media files, with no evidence of broader system compromise.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-37023
Published
Nov 23, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
Product
HarmonyOS
Classifications
CWE-22, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 23, 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

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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=2.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. · HarmonyOSversion=2.0

Published CVSS scores

6.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
6.4NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:N

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-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1190Path and Directory Traversal

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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