CVE-2021-44028

Local file disclosure via external entity resolution

Published Dec 22, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

XML external entity injection in Quest KACE Desktop Authority before 11.2 allows attackers to read local files through crafted configuration. The embedded log4net XML configuration parser leaves external entity resolution enabled while loading an attacker-controlled configuration file. Exploitation requires control of that local configuration file and user interaction; the documented consequence is confidentiality loss, not data modification or service interruption.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability3.00%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

XML external entity injection in Quest KACE Desktop Authority before 11.2 allows attackers to read local files through crafted configuration. The embedded log4net XML configuration parser leaves external entity resolution enabled while loading an attacker-controlled configuration file. Exploitation requires control of that local configuration file and user interaction; the documented consequence is confidentiality loss, not data modification or service interruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-44028
Published
Dec 22, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-611
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 22, 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 vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

4.3NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N
5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/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.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-611Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference

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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