CVE-2021-38266Network attack vector

Login denial via imported-password state confusion

Published Mar 2, 2022 · Updated Jul 9, 2026

LDAP authentication failure in affected Liferay Portal and Liferay DXP releases allows remote attackers to deny legitimate LDAP user sign-ins. LDAPAuth imports the LDAP user after failed LDAP authentication and incorrectly leaves the generated import password marked as a password modification. Exploitation requires LDAP integration and knowledge of a valid LDAP username; an incorrect unauthenticated sign-in attempt leaves the legitimate user unable to authenticate.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability1.74%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

LDAP authentication failure in affected Liferay Portal and Liferay DXP releases allows remote attackers to deny legitimate LDAP user sign-ins. LDAPAuth imports the LDAP user after failed LDAP authentication and incorrectly leaves the generated import password marked as a password modification. Exploitation requires LDAP integration and knowledge of a valid LDAP username; an incorrect unauthenticated sign-in attempt leaves the legitimate user unable to authenticate.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-38266
Published
Mar 2, 2022
Updated
Jul 9, 2026
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
T1531
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 2, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jul 9, 2026Record 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

5.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P
7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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.

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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

T1531Account Access Removal

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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