# CVE-2021-28128: Weak Password Recovery Mechanism for Forgotten Password in Strapi

> An attacker with a valid session can take over an account by changing the password without providing the current one.

- **Severity:** High 8.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 6 May 2021
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-37hx-4mcq-wc3h

## What is CVE-2021-28128?

CVE-2021-28128 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in n/a, published on 6 May 2021. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In Strapi through 3.6.0, the admin panel allows the changing of one's own password without entering the current password. An attacker who gains access to a valid session can use this to take over an account by changing the password.

Weakness: CWE-640 (Weak Password Recovery Mechanism for Forgotten Password)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-28128?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including strapi. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `strapi` | npm | All versions to 3.6.0 | None |
| `strapi` | npm | All versions to 3.6.0 | None |

Products: Strapi Strapi.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-28128?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-28128 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-28128 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-28128 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2023-22894](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-22894/): Strapi Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information (high 7.2, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-22621](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-22621/): Strapi plugins vulnerable to Server-Side Template Injection and Remote Code Execution in the Users-Permissions Plugin (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2022-27263](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-27263/): Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type in Strapi (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-27664](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-27664/): Authorization bypass in Strapi (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-18818](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-18818/): Strapi allows unauthenticated attacker to reset admin password without valid reset token (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-28128 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-28128 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in n/a, published on 6 May 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-2021-28128 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- strapi (npm): affected all versions up to 3.6.0; no fix listed
- strapi (npm): affected all versions up to 3.6.0; no fix listed

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-2021-28128/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-28128/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-28128
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-28128
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-28128

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-28128/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.