CVE-2021-46517Public exploit

Interpreter abort via crafted nested function calls

Published Jan 27, 2022 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Reachable assertion in Cesanta MJS 2.20.0 allows local users to abort the interpreter by executing crafted JavaScript. Nested function calls using Object.create.apply leave the scope stack empty before mjs_execute checks its mjs_stack_size assertion. The attacker must cause a user or embedding application to run the script, and the resulting assertion failure terminates the MJS process.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.61%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Reachable assertion in Cesanta MJS 2.20.0 allows local users to abort the interpreter by executing crafted JavaScript. Nested function calls using Object.create.apply leave the scope stack empty before mjs_execute checks its mjs_stack_size assertion. The attacker must cause a user or embedding application to run the script, and the resulting assertion failure terminates the MJS process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-46517
Published
Jan 27, 2022
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-617, T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 27, 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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

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

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

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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-617Reachable Assertion
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo