CVE-2021-38120

Command execution via unsanitized backup parameters

Published Aug 28, 2024 · Updated Aug 28, 2024

Command injection in OpenText NetIQ Advanced Authentication before 6.3.5.1 allows local users to execute commands through backup scheduling. The administrative backup scheduler passes improperly handled command parameters to Bash, allowing supplied shell syntax to change the executed command. Administrative privileges and user interaction are required; injected commands can read or alter server data and interrupt service.

CVSS severity5.1
Medium
EPSS probability0.53%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in OpenText NetIQ Advanced Authentication before 6.3.5.1 allows local users to execute commands through backup scheduling. The administrative backup scheduler passes improperly handled command parameters to Bash, allowing supplied shell syntax to change the executed command. Administrative privileges and user interaction are required; injected commands can read or alter server data and interrupt service.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-38120
Published
Aug 28, 2024
Updated
Aug 28, 2024
Vendor
OpenText
Product
OpenText NetIQ Advanced Authentication
Classifications
CWE-77, CAPEC-253, T1059.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 28, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 28, 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=6.3.5.1 <<

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

OpenText · OpenText NetIQ Advanced Authenticationversion=6.3.5.1 <<

Published CVSS scores

7.2NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.1OpenTextCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:H/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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-77Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
CAPEC-253Remote Code Inclusion
T1059.004Unix Shell

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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