# CVE-2021-31581: Akkadian Provisioning Manager Engine (PME) Shell Escape via 'vi' editor interface

> Attackers can escape the restricted shell via the vi editor interface to execute arbitrary commands and escalate privileges.

- **Severity:** High 7.9 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 22 Jul 2021
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-rcqq-fm3c-9r79

## What is CVE-2021-31581?

CVE-2021-31581 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Akkadian Provisioning Manager Engine (PME), published on 22 Jul 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The restricted shell provided by Akkadian Provisioning Manager Engine (PME) can be escaped by abusing the 'Edit MySQL Configuration' command. This command launches a standard vi editor interface which can then be escaped. This issue was resolved in Akkadian OVA appliance version 3.0 (and later), Akkadian Provisioning Manager 5.0.2 (and later), and Akkadian Appliance Manager 3.3.0.314-4a349e0 (and later).

Weakness: CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information), CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-31581?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Akkadianlabs Ova Appliance, Akkadianlabs Provisioning Manager.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-31581?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-31581 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-31581 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2021-31581 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Akkadian Provisioning Manager - Information Disclosure (nuclei): http/cves/2021/CVE-2021-31581.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in Akkadian Provisioning Manager Engine (PME)

- [CVE-2021-31580](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-31580/): Akkadian Provisioning Manager Engine (PME) Shell Escape via 'exec' command (high 8.7)
- [CVE-2021-31579](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-31579/): Akkadian Provisioning Manager Engine (PME) Hard-Coded Credentials (high 8.2)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-31581 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-31581 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Akkadian Provisioning Manager Engine (PME), published on 22 Jul 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2021-31581 exists.

Affected product: Akkadian Provisioning Manager Engine (PME). 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-2021-31581/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-31581/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-31581
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-31581
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-31581

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-31581/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.