CVE-2021-44736Network attack vector

Factory reset via unrestricted erase function

Published Jan 20, 2022 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Improper authentication in Lexmark device setup menus allows remote attackers to erase configuration data without credentials. The initial admin account setup wizard leaves the out-of-service erase function available to the Public login method instead of restricting it to administrators. Triggering the function resets the device to factory defaults and removes all configuration, including security access controls.

CVSS severity9.1
Critical
EPSS probability2.21%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper authentication in Lexmark device setup menus allows remote attackers to erase configuration data without credentials. The initial admin account setup wizard leaves the out-of-service erase function available to the Public login method instead of restricting it to administrators. Triggering the function resets the device to factory defaults and removes all configuration, including security access controls.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-44736
Published
Jan 20, 2022
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-287, T1485
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 20, 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 privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

9.6Trend Micro Zero Day InitiativeCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:H
9.1LexmarkCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H
9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
10.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-287Improper Authentication
T1485Data Destruction

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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