CVE-2021-38148Network attack vector

Arbitrary URL opening without user confirmation

Published Aug 7, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Improper authorization in Obsidian before 0.12.12 allows remote attackers to open non-HTTP/HTTPS URLs without user confirmation. The custom-URL handler passes non-web schemes onward without an approval decision; public sources do not identify the responsible function or validation logic. The unauthenticated network path can invoke a non-web URL handler without approval, while no more specific downstream effect is established.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability1.23%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper authorization in Obsidian before 0.12.12 allows remote attackers to open non-HTTP/HTTPS URLs without user confirmation. The custom-URL handler passes non-web schemes onward without an approval decision; public sources do not identify the responsible function or validation logic. The unauthenticated network path can invoke a non-web URL handler without approval, while no more specific downstream effect is established.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-38148
Published
Aug 7, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-285
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 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 privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-285Improper Authorization

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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