# CVE-2021-27197: Path traversal in n/a

> Remote attackers can overwrite arbitrary files via a crafted HTML page due to insufficient validation in DSUtility.dll, potentially leading to code execution.

- **Severity:** High 8.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 12 Feb 2021
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-gc59-gfp7-vrrr

## What is CVE-2021-27197?

CVE-2021-27197 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 12 Feb 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

DSUtility.dll in Pelco Digital Sentry Server before 7.19.67 has an arbitrary file write vulnerability. The AppendToTextFile method doesn't check if it's being called from the application or from a malicious user. The vulnerability is triggered when a remote attacker crafts an HTML page (e.g., with "OBJECT classid=" and "<SCRIPT language='vbscript'>") to overwrite arbitrary files.

Weakness: CWE-346 (Origin Validation Error)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-27197?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Pelco Digital Sentry Server.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-27197?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-27197 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-27197 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-27197 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2021-27232](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-27232/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2021-27184](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-27184/): XML external entity in n/a (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-27197 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-27197 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 12 Feb 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-27197 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: n/a. 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-2021-27197/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-27197/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-27197
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-27197
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-27197

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-27197/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.