CVE-2021-42000Network attack vector

Cross-account password reset via parallel flow mishandling

Published Feb 10, 2022 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Improper authorization in Ping Identity PingFederate allows attackers to reset another existing user's password through parallel reset flows. The password reset and password change authentication-policy logic mishandles account identity when an adapter processes multiple reset flows in parallel. The issue requires that policy-and-adapter configuration, and successful exploitation changes the targeted account's credential without disclosing data or interrupting service.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.53%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper authorization in Ping Identity PingFederate allows attackers to reset another existing user's password through parallel reset flows. The password reset and password change authentication-policy logic mishandles account identity when an adapter processes multiple reset flows in parallel. The issue requires that policy-and-adapter configuration, and successful exploitation changes the targeted account's credential without disclosing data or interrupting service.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-42000
Published
Feb 10, 2022
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Ping Identity
Product
PingFederate
Classifications
CWE-285, T1098
Attack vector
network
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 10, 2022CVE 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=10.0.11 <10.0.0*
  2. Affected versionversion=10.1.8 <10.1.0*
  3. Affected versionversion=10.2.6 <10.2.0*
  4. Affected versionversion=10.3.2 <10.3.0*
  5. Affected versionversion=9.3.3-P15 <9.3.0*

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Ping Identity · PingFederateversion=10.0.11 <10.0.0*; version=10.1.8 <10.1.0*; version=10.2.6 <10.2.0*; version=10.3.2 <10.3.0*; version=9.3.3-P15 <9.3.0*

Published CVSS scores

5.3Ping IdentityCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
6.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
3.5NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:S/C:N/I:P/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
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-285Improper Authorization
T1098Account 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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