# CVE-2021-36204: Insufficiently Protected Credentials in Metasys

> Attackers can obtain plain-text credentials via API calls in Johnson Controls Metasys building automation systems.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/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:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 13 Jan 2023
- **Updated:** 7 Apr 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-4h8x-xvqq-f78f

## What is CVE-2021-36204?

CVE-2021-36204 is a high-severity vulnerability in Johnson Controls Metasys ADS/ADX/OAS, published on 13 Jan 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Under some circumstances an Insufficiently Protected Credentials vulnerability in Johnson Controls Metasys ADS/ADX/OAS 10 versions prior to 10.1.6 and 11 versions prior to 11.0.3 allows API calls to expose credentials in plain text.

Weakness: CWE-522 (Insufficiently Protected Credentials)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-36204?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Johnsoncontrols Metasys Application and Data Server, Johnsoncontrols Metasys Extended Application and Data Server, Johnsoncontrols Metasys Open Application Server.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-36204?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-36204 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-36204 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-36204 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Johnson Controls Metasys ADS/ADX/OAS

- [CVE-2021-36207](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-36207/): Metasys privilege management (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2022-21937](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-21937/): Metasys CSS (high 8.7)
- [CVE-2021-36202](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-36202/): Metasys UI (high 8.4)
- [CVE-2022-21938](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-21938/): Metasys MUI Graphics XSS (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2021-36205](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-36205/): Metasys session token (high 8.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-36204 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-36204 is a high-severity vulnerability in Johnson Controls Metasys ADS/ADX/OAS, published on 13 Jan 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-36204 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Johnson Controls Metasys ADS/ADX/OAS. 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-2021-36204/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-36204/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-36204
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-36204
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-36204

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-36204/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.