# CVE-2021-27651: Auth bypass in Pega Infinity

> Attackers can bypass local authentication checks via the password reset functionality in Pega Infinity, leading to unauthorized account access.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:F/RL:O/RC:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 29 Apr 2021
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-7px5-vqmh-8xj8

## What is CVE-2021-27651?

CVE-2021-27651 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Pegasystems Pega Infinity, published on 29 Apr 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In versions 8.2.1 through 8.5.2 of Pega Infinity, the password reset functionality for local accounts can be used to bypass local authentication checks.

Weakness: CWE-287 (Improper Authentication)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-27651?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Pega Infinity.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-27651?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-27651 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-27651 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2021-27651 exists.

Public exploit code:

- RCE for Pega Infinity >= 8.2.1, Pega Infinity <= 8.5.2 (github_poc): https://github.com/samwcyo/CVE-2021-27651-PoC
- Pega Infinity Password Reset (github_poc): https://github.com/Vulnmachines/CVE-2021-27651
- bypass all stages of the password reset flow (github_poc): https://github.com/orangmuda/CVE-2021-27651
- Pega Infinity - Authentication Bypass (nuclei): http/cves/2021/CVE-2021-27651.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in Pegasystems Pega Infinity

- [CVE-2022-24083](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-24083/): Auth bypass in Pega Infinity (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-24082](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-24082/): Deserialization in Pega Infinity (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2024-10094](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-10094/): Code injection in Pega Infinity (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2021-27654](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-27654/): Auth bypass in Pega Infinity (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2021-27653](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-27653/): Misconfiguration in Pega Infinity (medium 6.6)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-27651 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-27651 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Pegasystems Pega Infinity, published on 29 Apr 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2021-27651 exists.

Affected product: Pegasystems Pega Infinity. 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-2021-27651/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-27651/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-27651
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-27651
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-27651

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-27651/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.