CVE-2021-43998Network attack vector

Unauthorized resource access via first-alias ACL matching

Published Nov 30, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Authorization flaw in HashiCorp Vault and Vault Enterprise 0.11.0 through 1.7.5 and 1.8.4 allows remote authenticated users to gain unintended access. When multiple aliases share one entity and mount, the templated-policy resolver always selects the first-created alias and enforces its permissions for the newer alias. Exploitation requires write permission to the identity/entity-alias endpoint, normally limited to privileged operators, and can expose or permit changes to resources granted by the first alias.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability1.01%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authorization flaw in HashiCorp Vault and Vault Enterprise 0.11.0 through 1.7.5 and 1.8.4 allows remote authenticated users to gain unintended access. When multiple aliases share one entity and mount, the templated-policy resolver always selects the first-created alias and enforces its permissions for the newer alias. Exploitation requires write permission to the identity/entity-alias endpoint, normally limited to privileged operators, and can expose or permit changes to resources granted by the first alias.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-43998
Published
Nov 30, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-732, T1098
Attack vector
network
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 30, 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

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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 privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

5.9HashiCorpCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
6.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
5.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/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.

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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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-732Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource
T1098Account Manipulation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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