# CVE-2021-34993: Auth bypass in CommCell

> Remote attackers can bypass authentication in Commvault CommCell via the CVSearchService, gaining unauthorized access to the system.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/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:** 13 Jan 2022
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-95jr-2g3p-6m72

## What is CVE-2021-34993?

CVE-2021-34993 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Commvault CommCell, published on 13 Jan 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

This vulnerability allows remote attackers to bypass authentication on affected installations of Commvault CommCell 11.22.22. Authentication is not required to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the CVSearchService service. The issue results from the lack of proper validation prior to authentication. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to bypass authentication on the system. Was ZDI-CAN-13706.

Weakness: CWE-287 (Improper Authentication)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-34993?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Commvault Commcell.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-34993?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-34993 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-34993 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-34993 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Commvault CommCell

- [CVE-2021-34994](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-34994/): Code injection in CommCell (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2021-34995](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-34995/): File upload in CommCell (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2021-34996](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-34996/): Command injection in CommCell (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2021-34997](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-34997/): File upload in CommCell (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2020-25780](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-25780/): Path traversal in n/a (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-34993 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-34993 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Commvault CommCell, published on 13 Jan 2022. 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-2021-34993 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Commvault CommCell. 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-2021-34993/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-34993/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-34993
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-34993
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-34993

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-34993/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.