CVE-2021-42561Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Authenticated command execution via unsanitized Human name

Published Jan 12, 2022 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Command injection in MITRE CALDERA 2.8.1 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary shell commands through the Human plugin. The build_human API passes its name value without sanitization to os.system in plugins/human/app/human_svc.py, so shell metacharacters escape the intended command. Valid CALDERA credentials and an activated Human plugin are required; successful exploitation runs commands with the server process's privileges.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability19.57%
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 shell commands through the Human plugin. The build_human API passes its name value without sanitization to os.system in plugins/human/app/human_svc.py, so shell metacharacters escape the intended command. Valid CALDERA credentials and an activated Human plugin are required; successful exploitation runs commands with the server process's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-42561
Published
Jan 12, 2022
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-74, T1059.004
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

9.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:C/I:C/A:C
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-74Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')
T1059.004Unix Shell

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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