CVE-2021-45008Public exploitNetwork attack vector

User-to-admin escalation via unchecked super-admin flag

Published Feb 21, 2022 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Privilege escalation in Plesk Obsidian 18.0.37 allows remote authenticated users to gain administrator rights via crafted login requests. The login request accepts a client-controlled super-admin flag without enforcing the caller's role, exposing administrator data and capabilities. The record is disputed as site-specific, and exploitation requires a valid low-privilege account; no unauthenticated path is described.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability1.96%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Privilege escalation in Plesk Obsidian 18.0.37 allows remote authenticated users to gain administrator rights via crafted login requests. The login request accepts a client-controlled super-admin flag without enforcing the caller's role, exposing administrator data and capabilities. The record is disputed as site-specific, and exploitation requires a valid low-privilege account; no unauthenticated path is described.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-45008
Published
Feb 21, 2022
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Plesk
Product
Plesk
Classifications
CWE-281, T1548
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 21, 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=18.0.37

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Plesk · Pleskversion=18.0.37

Published CVSS scores

8.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.5NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P

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-281Improper Preservation of Permissions
T1548Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism

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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