CVE-2021-40494Network attack vector

Host administrator access via hard-coded JWT secret

Published Sep 3, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Hard-coded credentials in AdaptiveScale LXDUI 2.1.3 and earlier allow remote attackers to gain host administrator access via forged JWTs. The authentication code reads a constant signing secret from application metadata, enabling attackers to generate tokens accepted as administrator credentials. No password or existing account is required, and successful exploitation grants administrative control over the LXDUI-managed host.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability1.72%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Hard-coded credentials in AdaptiveScale LXDUI 2.1.3 and earlier allow remote attackers to gain host administrator access via forged JWTs. The authentication code reads a constant signing secret from application metadata, enabling attackers to generate tokens accepted as administrator credentials. No password or existing account is required, and successful exploitation grants administrative control over the LXDUI-managed host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-40494
Published
Sep 3, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-798, T1134
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 3, 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

9.3GitHubCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
9.8NVDCVSS: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
9.8GitHubCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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.

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
T1134Access Token Manipulation

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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