CVE-2021-37531Network attack vector

Authenticated OS command execution via malicious XSLT

Published Sep 14, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

XSLT injection in SAP NetWeaver XML Forms 7.10, 7.11, 7.30, 7.31, 7.40, and 7.50 allows remote authenticated users to execute OS commands. The com.sapportals.wcm.repository.filter XSLT engine accepts an attacker-owned stylesheet containing script directives and passes its OS commands for execution. Membership in the Authenticated Users and Everyone groups, with no assigned role, is sufficient to run commands as the SAP administrator OS account and fully compromise the host.

CVSS severity9.9
Critical
EPSS probability3.16%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

XSLT injection in SAP NetWeaver XML Forms 7.10, 7.11, 7.30, 7.31, 7.40, and 7.50 allows remote authenticated users to execute OS commands. The com.sapportals.wcm.repository.filter XSLT engine accepts an attacker-owned stylesheet containing script directives and passes its OS commands for execution. Membership in the Authenticated Users and Everyone groups, with no assigned role, is sufficient to run commands as the SAP administrator OS account and fully compromise the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-37531
Published
Sep 14, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
SAP SE
Product
SAP NetWeaver Knowledge Management XML Forms
Classifications
CWE-78, T1059
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 14, 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=< 7.10
  2. Affected versionversion=< 7.11
  3. Affected versionversion=< 7.30
  4. Affected versionversion=< 7.31
  5. Affected versionversion=< 7.40
  6. Affected versionversion=< 7.50

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

SAP SE · SAP NetWeaver Knowledge Management XML Formsversion=< 7.10; version=< 7.11; version=< 7.30; version=< 7.31; version=< 7.40; version=< 7.50

Published CVSS scores

9.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:C/I:C/A:C
8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.9SAP SECVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter

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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