CVE-2021-45083

Credential disclosure via world-readable configuration files

Published Feb 20, 2022 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Incorrect file permissions in Cobbler before 3.3.1 allow local users to read credential material from server configuration files. The packaging assigns world-readable modes to /etc/cobbler/users.digest and /etc/cobbler/settings.yaml instead of restricting them to required service accounts. Any non-privileged account on the server can recover password digests and other secrets, enabling offline password guessing and authenticated Cobbler sessions.

CVSS severity7.1
High
EPSS probability0.31%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Incorrect file permissions in Cobbler before 3.3.1 allow local users to read credential material from server configuration files. The packaging assigns world-readable modes to /etc/cobbler/users.digest and /etc/cobbler/settings.yaml instead of restricting them to required service accounts. Any non-privileged account on the server can recover password digests and other secrets, enabling offline password guessing and authenticated Cobbler sessions.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-45083
Published
Feb 20, 2022
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-276, T1552.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 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 vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

3.6NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:N
8.4SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
7.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-276Incorrect Default Permissions
T1552.001Unsecured Credentials: Credentials In Files

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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