# CVE-2021-20136: Missing authorization in ManageEngine Log360

> Unauthenticated attackers can overwrite database configurations to achieve remote code execution in ManageEngine Log360.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 1 Nov 2021
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-3fq5-562h-h369

## What is CVE-2021-20136?

CVE-2021-20136 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability in ManageEngine Log360, published on 1 Nov 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

ManageEngine Log360 Builds < 5235 are affected by an improper access control vulnerability allowing database configuration overwrite. An unauthenticated remote attacker can send a specially crafted message to Log360 to change its backend database to an attacker-controlled database and to force Log360 to restart. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to achieve remote code execution by replacing files executed by Log360 on startup.

Weakness: CWE-306 (Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-20136?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Zohocorp Manageengine Log360.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-20136?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-20136 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-20136 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-20136 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in ManageEngine Log360

- [CVE-2021-40175](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-40175/): File upload in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-40177](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-40177/): File upload in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-40172](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-40172/): Cross-site request forgery in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2021-40174](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-40174/): Cross-site request forgery in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2026-3324](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-3324/): Authentication Bypass (high 8.2)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-20136 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-20136 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability in ManageEngine Log360, published on 1 Nov 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-20136 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: ManageEngine Log360. 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-2021-20136/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-20136/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-20136
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-20136
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-20136

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-20136/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.