CVE-2021-40501Network attack vector

Privilege escalation via unchecked trusted connections

Published Nov 10, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Missing authorization in SAP ABAP Platform Kernel allows remote authenticated users to read and modify data in connected systems. The kernel accepts trusted RFC and HTTP connections without required authorization checks, enabling application-specific logic in other systems. The affected branches are before 7.77, before 7.81, before 7.85, and before 7.86; a valid business-user account and trusted connection are required.

CVSS severity8.1
High
EPSS probability0.76%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Missing authorization in SAP ABAP Platform Kernel allows remote authenticated users to read and modify data in connected systems. The kernel accepts trusted RFC and HTTP connections without required authorization checks, enabling application-specific logic in other systems. The affected branches are before 7.77, before 7.81, before 7.85, and before 7.86; a valid business-user account and trusted connection are required.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-40501
Published
Nov 10, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
SAP SE
Product
SAP ABAP Platform Kernel
Classifications
CWE-862, T1210
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 10, 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=< 7.77
  2. Affected versionversion=< 7.81
  3. Affected versionversion=< 7.85
  4. Affected versionversion=< 7.86

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

SAP SE · SAP ABAP Platform Kernelversion=< 7.77; version=< 7.81; version=< 7.85; version=< 7.86

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:N
8.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/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.

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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-862Missing Authorization
T1210Exploitation of Remote Services

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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