# CVE-2021-3401: Command injection in n/a

> Remote attackers might execute arbitrary code via unsafe argument passing in Bitcoin Core, though exploitability is disputed.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/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:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 4 Feb 2021
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-rvfw-vc72-c8w8

## What is CVE-2021-3401?

CVE-2021-3401 is a critical command injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 4 Feb 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Bitcoin Core before 0.19.0 might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code when another application unsafely passes the -platformpluginpath argument to the bitcoin-qt program, as demonstrated by an x-scheme-handler/bitcoin handler for a .desktop file or a web browser. NOTE: the discoverer states "I believe that this vulnerability cannot actually be exploited."

Weakness: CWE-88 (Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-3401?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Bitcoin Bitcoin.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-3401?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-3401 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-3401 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-3401 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2017-9230](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-9230/): Other in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2021-31876](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-31876/): Business logic in n/a (medium 6.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-3401 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-3401 is a critical command injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 4 Feb 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-3401 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-2021-3401/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-3401/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-3401
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-3401
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-3401

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-3401/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.