# CVE-2021-33256: Code injection in n/a

> Unauthenticated attackers can inject malicious formulas into login parameters, leading to code execution when administrators export audit reports.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/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:** 9 Aug 2021
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-x963-3p8c-j4m6

## What is CVE-2021-33256?

CVE-2021-33256 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Zohocorp Manageengine Adselfservice Plus, published on 9 Aug 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

A CSV injection vulnerability on the login panel of ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus Version: 6.1 Build No: 6101 can be exploited by an unauthenticated user. The j_username parameter seems to be vulnerable and a reverse shell could be obtained if a privileged user exports "User Attempts Audit Report" as CSV file. Note: The vendor disputes this vulnerability, claiming "This is not a valid vulnerability in our ADSSP product. We don't see this as a security issue at our side.

Weakness: CWE-1236 (Improper Neutralization of Formula Elements in a CSV File)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-33256?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Zohocorp Manageengine Adselfservice Plus.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-33256?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-33256 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-33256 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-33256 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Zohocorp Manageengine Adselfservice Plus

- [CVE-2021-40539](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-40539/): Zoho ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-28810](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-28810/): Zoho ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus Remote Code Execution (medium 6.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-3905](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-3905/): Server-side request forgery in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2023-35854](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-35854/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-37422](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-37422/): SQL injection in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-33256 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-33256 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Zohocorp Manageengine Adselfservice Plus, published on 9 Aug 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-2021-33256 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Zohocorp Manageengine Adselfservice Plus. 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-2021-33256/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-33256/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-33256
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-33256
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-33256

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-33256/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.