# CVE-2021-38154: Missing authorization in n/a

> Attackers can modify email settings on Canon devices to exfiltrate sensitive data like faxes if Catwalk Server is enabled and PIN protection is disabled.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 29 Aug 2021
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-53fm-fvpg-f4cc

## What is CVE-2021-38154?

CVE-2021-38154 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in n/a, published on 29 Aug 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Certain Canon devices manufactured in 2012 through 2020 (such as imageRUNNER ADVANCE iR-ADV C5250), when Catwalk Server is enabled for HTTP access, allow remote attackers to modify an e-mail address setting, and thus cause the device to send sensitive information through e-mail to the attacker. For example, an incoming FAX may be sent through e-mail to the attacker. This occurs when a PIN is not required for General User Mode, as exploited in the wild in August 2021.

Weakness: CWE-732 (Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-38154?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Canon -.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-38154?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-38154 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-38154 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2021-38154 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Canon Devices - Authentication Bypass in Catwalk Server (nuclei): http/cves/2021/CVE-2021-38154.yaml

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-38154 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-38154 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in n/a, published on 29 Aug 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2021-38154 exists.

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-2021-38154/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-38154/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-38154
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-38154
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-38154

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-38154/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.