CVE-2021-42559Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Authenticated command execution via mutable startup requirements

Published Jan 12, 2022 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Command injection in MITRE CALDERA 2.8.1 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary commands through the REST API. The configuration endpoint accepts attacker-controlled startup requirement commands and persists them in config/local.yml without restricting executable content. Valid credentials are required, and the injected command runs with the server's privileges only after CALDERA restarts.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability1.96%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in MITRE CALDERA 2.8.1 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary commands through the REST API. The configuration endpoint accepts attacker-controlled startup requirement commands and persists them in config/local.yml without restricting executable content. Valid credentials are required, and the injected command runs with the server's privileges only after CALDERA restarts.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-42559
Published
Jan 12, 2022
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-77, T1059
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 12, 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

6.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P
8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-77Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter

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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