CVE-2021-37218Network attack vector

Privilege escalation via non-server Raft RPC access

Published Sep 7, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Privilege escalation in HashiCorp Nomad and Nomad Enterprise allows remote authenticated users to invoke server-only Raft RPCs. The RPC authentication logic accepts a non-server certificate signed by the configured Nomad CA for the Raft layer instead of enforcing server-only access. Exploitation requires control of a Nomad client agent and its valid CA-signed certificate; successful requests reach privileged server functionality beyond client permissions.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.69%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Privilege escalation in HashiCorp Nomad and Nomad Enterprise allows remote authenticated users to invoke server-only Raft RPCs. The RPC authentication logic accepts a non-server certificate signed by the configured Nomad CA for the Raft layer instead of enforcing server-only access. Exploitation requires control of a Nomad client agent and its valid CA-signed certificate; successful requests reach privileged server functionality beyond client permissions.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-37218
Published
Sep 7, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-295, CAPEC-459, CAPEC-475, T1068
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 7, 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?

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 NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P
8.8NIST NVDCVSS: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-295Improper Certificate Validation
CAPEC-459Creating a Rogue Certification Authority Certificate
CAPEC-475Signature Spoofing by Improper Validation
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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

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Your stack

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