# CVE-2021-20081: Command injection in ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus

> Remote authenticated attackers can execute arbitrary commands with SYSTEM privileges due to incomplete input validation in ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus.

- **Severity:** High 7.2 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 10 Jun 2021
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-p7qv-g8g6-53r3

## What is CVE-2021-20081?

CVE-2021-20081 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Zohocorp Manageengine Servicedesk Plus, published on 10 Jun 2021. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Incomplete List of Disallowed Inputs in ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus before version 11205 allows a remote, authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary commands with SYSTEM privileges.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-20081?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Zohocorp Manageengine Servicedesk Plus.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-20081?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-20081 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-20081 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-20081 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Zohocorp Manageengine Servicedesk Plus

- [CVE-2021-44077](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-44077/): Zoho ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-37415](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-37415/): Zoho ManageEngine ServiceDesk Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-8394](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-8394/): Zoho ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus (SDP) File Upload (high 7.5, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-44526](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-44526/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-8395](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-8395/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-20081 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-20081 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Zohocorp Manageengine Servicedesk Plus, published on 10 Jun 2021. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-20081 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Zohocorp Manageengine Servicedesk Plus. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-20081/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-20081/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-20081
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-20081
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-20081

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-20081/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.