# CVE-2021-36288: Path traversal in VNX2

> Unauthenticated attackers can read or write restricted files on Dell VNX2 storage systems via path traversal.

- **Severity:** High 8.6 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 8 Apr 2022
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-q6fx-xrr4-6vh5

## What is CVE-2021-36288?

CVE-2021-36288 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Dell VNX2, published on 8 Apr 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Dell VNX2 for File version 8.1.21.266 and earlier, contain a path traversal vulnerability which may lead unauthenticated users to read/write restricted files

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-36288?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Dell Emc Unity Operating Environment.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-36288?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-36288 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-36288 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-36288 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Dell VNX2

- [CVE-2021-36294](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-36294/): Auth bypass in VNX Control Station (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-36289](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-36289/): Information disclosure in VNX Control Station (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2019-3741](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-3741/): Information disclosure in Unity (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2018-11064](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-11064/): Privilege escalation in Dell EMC Unity (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2020-29490](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-29490/): Denial of service in Unity (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-36288 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-36288 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Dell VNX2, published on 8 Apr 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-2021-36288 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Dell VNX2. 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-2021-36288/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-36288/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-36288
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-36288
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-36288

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-36288/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.