CVE-2021-40119Network attack vector

Unauthenticated root login via static SSH keys

Published Nov 4, 2021 · Updated Nov 7, 2024

Use of hard-coded cryptographic keys in Cisco Policy Suite allows unauthenticated remote attackers to log in as root via SSH. The SSH authentication subsystem reuses the same static private keys across installations, allowing a key extracted from one controlled system to authenticate to another deployment. Exploitation requires network reachability to SSH and the reusable key; successful access grants root-level read, write, and service-control capability.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability2.50%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use of hard-coded cryptographic keys in Cisco Policy Suite allows unauthenticated remote attackers to log in as root via SSH. The SSH authentication subsystem reuses the same static private keys across installations, allowing a key extracted from one controlled system to authenticate to another deployment. Exploitation requires network reachability to SSH and the reusable key; successful access grants root-level read, write, and service-control capability.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-40119
Published
Nov 4, 2021
Updated
Nov 7, 2024
Vendor
ClamAV
Product
Cisco Policy Suite
Classifications
CWE-798, CWE-321, T1552.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 4, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 7, 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=n/a

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

ClamAV · Cisco Policy Suiteversion=n/a

Published CVSS scores

9.8Cisco Systems, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
10.0NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-798Use of Hard-coded Credentials
CWE-321Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key
T1552.004Unsecured Credentials: Private Keys

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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