CVE-2021-4189Network attack vector

Internal port scanning via trusted PASV address

Published Aug 24, 2022 · Updated Dec 17, 2025

SSRF in CPython ftplib before 3.6.14, 3.7.11, 3.8.9, 3.9.3, or 3.10.0 allows remote attackers to probe client-side TCP ports. FTP.makepasv parses an IPv4 host and port from the PASV reply and connects to that server-supplied host instead of the established control peer. Exploitation requires a client to use passive mode with an attacker-controlled FTP server; the consequence is TCP port probing from the client's network position.

CVSS severity5.3
Medium
EPSS probability3.20%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

SSRF in CPython ftplib before 3.6.14, 3.7.11, 3.8.9, 3.9.3, or 3.10.0 allows remote attackers to probe client-side TCP ports. FTP.makepasv parses an IPv4 host and port from the PASV reply and connects to that server-supplied host instead of the established control peer. Exploitation requires a client to use passive mode with an attacker-controlled FTP server; the consequence is TCP port probing from the client's network position.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-4189
Published
Aug 24, 2022
Updated
Dec 17, 2025
Vendor
Python Software Foundation
Product
CPython
Classifications
CWE-252, T1046
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 24, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 17, 2025Record 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=Fixed in python 3.6.14, python 3.7.11, python 3.8.9, python 3.9.3, python 3.10.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Python Software Foundation · CPythonversion=Fixed in python 3.6.14, python 3.7.11, python 3.8.9, python 3.9.3, python 3.10.0

Published CVSS scores

5.3CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-252Unchecked Return Value
T1046Network Service Scanning

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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo