# CVE-2021-21996: Exposure of Resource to Wrong Sphere in salt > Attackers controlling source URLs can gain root file system access on Salt minions, requiring immediate upgrades to SaltStack Salt. - **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`) - **Exploited in the wild:** Not known - **Login needed:** Any signed-in user - **Attackable:** Over the internet - **Victim action needed:** Not needed - **Fix available:** Yes - **Published:** 8 Sep 2021 - **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024 - **Also known as:** DLA-2823-1, DSA-5011-1, GHSA-pf7h-h2wq-m7pg, PYSEC-2021-318, SUSE-SU-2021:14833-1, SUSE-SU-2021:3550-1, SUSE-SU-2021:3553-1, SUSE-SU-2021:3555-1, SUSE-SU-2021:3556-1, SUSE-SU-2021:3557-1, SUSE-SU-2021:3621-1, SUSE-SU-2021:3906-1, UBUNTU-CVE-2021-21996, openSUSE-SU-2021:1443-1, openSUSE-SU-2021:3557-1 ## What is CVE-2021-21996? CVE-2021-21996 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 8 Sep 2021. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim. ### Official description An issue was discovered in SaltStack Salt before 3003.3. A user who has control of the source, and source_hash URLs can gain full file system access as root on a salt minion. ## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-21996? 3 open source packages ship an affected version, including salt. It affects 3 products. | Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `salt` | PyPI | All versions | 3003.3 | | `salt` | PyPI | All versions | 3003.3 | | `salt` | PyPI | All versions | 3003.3 | | `salt` | SUSE:Enterprise Storage 6 | All versions | 3002.2-48.4 | | `salt` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1-ESPOS | All versions | 3002.2-48.4 | | `salt` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1-LTSS | All versions | 3002.2-48.4 | | `salt` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15-ESPOS | All versions | 3002.2-8.41.17.1 | | `salt` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15-LTSS | All versions | 3002.2-8.41.17.1 | | `salt` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.0 | All versions | 3002.2-49.2 | | `salt` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.1 | All versions | 3002.2-50.1.15.1 | | `salt` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Advanced Systems Management 12 | All versions | 3000-46.151.2 | | `salt` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP2 | All versions | 3002.2-49.2 | | `salt` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP3 | All versions | 3002.2-50.1.15.1 | | `salt` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Server Applications 15 SP2 | All versions | 3002.2-49.2 | | `salt` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Server Applications 15 SP3 | All versions | 3002.2-50.1.15.1 | | `salt` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Transactional Server 15 SP2 | All versions | 3002.2-49.2 | | `salt` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Transactional Server 15 SP3 | All versions | 3002.2-50.1.15.1 | | `salt` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP3-CLIENT-TOOLS | All versions | 2016.11.10-43.84.1 | | `spacecmd` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP3-CLIENT-TOOLS | All versions | 4.2.13-18.93.1 | | `spacewalk-client-tools` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP3-CLIENT-TOOLS | All versions | 4.2.14-27.59.1 | | `salt` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4-CLIENT-TOOLS | All versions | 2016.11.10-43.84.1 | | `spacecmd` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4-CLIENT-TOOLS | All versions | 4.2.13-18.93.1 | | `spacewalk-client-tools` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4-CLIENT-TOOLS | All versions | 4.2.14-27.59.1 | | `salt` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-BCL | All versions | 3002.2-48.4 | | `salt` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-LTSS | All versions | 3002.2-48.4 | | `salt` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15-LTSS | All versions | 3002.2-8.41.17.1 | | `salt` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 | All versions | 3002.2-8.41.17.1 | | `salt` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP1 | All versions | 3002.2-48.4 | | `salt` | SUSE:Manager Client Tools 12 | All versions | 3000-46.151.2 | | `grafana-formula` | SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.1 | All versions | 0.4.2-3.12.2 | | `prometheus-formula` | SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.1 | All versions | 0.3.4-3.12.2 | | `py26-compat-salt` | SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.1 | All versions | 2016.11.10-17.2 | | `py26-compat-tornado` | SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.1 | All versions | 4.2.1-3.3.2 | | `py27-compat-salt` | SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.1 | All versions | 3000.3-6.15.2 | | `spacecmd` | SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.1 | All versions | 4.1.15-4.30.2 | | `spacewalk-backend` | SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.1 | All versions | 4.1.29-4.44.2 | | `spacewalk-certs-tools` | SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.1 | All versions | 4.1.19-3.22.2 | | `spacewalk-java` | SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.1 | All versions | 4.1.41-3.58.2 | | `spacewalk-reports` | SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.1 | All versions | 4.1.4-3.6.2 | | `spacewalk-web` | SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.1 | All versions | 4.1.30-3.36.1 | Products: Debian Debian Linux, Fedoraproject Fedora, Saltstack Salt. ## How do I fix CVE-2021-21996? Upgrade salt to 3003.3 or later. ## Is CVE-2021-21996 being exploited? There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-21996 in the wild and no public exploit code. ## Other vulnerabilities in Debian Debian Linux - [CVE-2015-3306](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-3306/): ProFTPD Improper Access Control (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild) - [CVE-2025-49113](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-49113/): RoundCube Webmail Deserialization of Untrusted Data (critical 9.9, exploited in the wild) - [CVE-2026-24061](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-24061/): GNU InetUtils Argument Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild) - [CVE-2025-39682](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-39682/): Linux Kernel Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild) - [CVE-2024-9680](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-9680/): Mozilla Firefox Use-After-Free (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild) ## Fix prompt for AI coding agents ```text Check this codebase for CVE-2021-21996 and fix it if it is affected. What it is: CVE-2021-21996 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 8 Sep 2021. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim. Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-21996 in the wild and no public exploit code. Affected packages and fixed versions: - salt (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 3003.3 - salt (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 3003.3 - salt (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 3003.3 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-2021-21996/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-21996/index.md) ``` ## Sources - CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-21996 - NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-21996 - OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-21996 --- From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-21996/ Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.