CVE-2021-38363Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Controller memory exhaustion via retained invalid intents

Published Apr 20, 2023 · Updated Feb 5, 2025

Resource exhaustion in ONOS 2.5.1 IntentManager allows remote attackers to consume controller memory via malformed PointToPoint intents. Each invalid point field triggers a NullPointerException, but IntentManager retains the install request indefinitely in pendingMap instead of removing it after the exception. Exploitation requires access to the controller intent API; retained requests cannot be deleted by a user or the periodic cleanup process.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.65%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Resource exhaustion in ONOS 2.5.1 IntentManager allows remote attackers to consume controller memory via malformed PointToPoint intents. Each invalid point field triggers a NullPointerException, but IntentManager retains the install request indefinitely in pendingMap instead of removing it after the exception. Exploitation requires access to the controller intent API; retained requests cannot be deleted by a user or the periodic cleanup process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-38363
Published
Apr 20, 2023
Updated
Feb 5, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-755, T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 20, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 5, 2025Record 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

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

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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-755Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

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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