CVE-2021-43823Network attack vector

Private-code disclosure via search-result existence oracle

Published Dec 13, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Observable discrepancy in Sourcegraph before 3.33.2 allows remote authenticated users to infer strings in private source through search results. Saved Searches and Code Monitoring reveal whether each attacker-chosen string exists, creating an existence oracle over otherwise inaccessible code. Exploitation requires an account and many crafted searches or monitors; disclosed strings can include formatted secrets such as API keys.

CVSS severity4.0
Medium
EPSS probability0.84%
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

Observable discrepancy in Sourcegraph before 3.33.2 allows remote authenticated users to infer strings in private source through search results. Saved Searches and Code Monitoring reveal whether each attacker-chosen string exists, creating an existence oracle over otherwise inaccessible code. Exploitation requires an account and many crafted searches or monitors; disclosed strings can include formatted secrets such as API keys.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-43823
Published
Dec 13, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Sourcegraph
Product
Sourcegraph
Classifications
CWE-203, CWE-200, T1552.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 13, 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=< 3.33.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Sourcegraph · Sourcegraphversion=< 3.33.2

Published CVSS scores

4.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:N/A:N
6.5GitHub, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-203Observable Discrepancy
CWE-200Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
T1552.001Unsecured Credentials: Credentials In Files

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