CVE-2021-40996Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Unauthenticated system compromise via classloader manipulation

Published Oct 15, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Authentication bypass in HPE Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager allows remote attackers to gain administrative access through an unauthenticated endpoint. The /tips/AdminDbcn servlet passes request parameters to Apache Commons BeanUtils.populate, allowing class.classLoader properties to alter Tomcat resource aliases. No credentials or user interaction are required; exploitation exposes local files and enables full system compromise when a JSP upload path is available.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability1.76%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authentication bypass in HPE Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager allows remote attackers to gain administrative access through an unauthenticated endpoint. The /tips/AdminDbcn servlet passes request parameters to Apache Commons BeanUtils.populate, allowing class.classLoader properties to alter Tomcat resource aliases. No credentials or user interaction are required; exploitation exposes local files and enables full system compromise when a JSP upload path is available.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-40996
Published
Oct 15, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
Product
HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass Policy Manager
Classifications
T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 15, 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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=ClearPass Policy Manager 6.10.x prior to 6.10.2 - - ClearPass Policy Manager 6.9.x prior to 6.9.7-HF1 - - ClearPass Policy Manager 6.8.x prior to 6.8.9-HF1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) · HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass Policy Managerversion=ClearPass Policy Manager 6.10.x prior to 6.10.2 - - ClearPass Policy Manager 6.9.x prior to 6.9.7-HF1 - - ClearPass Policy Manager 6.8.x prior to 6.8.9-HF1

Published CVSS scores

9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

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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