# CVE-2021-38163: SAP NetWeaver Unrestricted File Upload

> Authenticated attackers can upload malicious files to SAP NetWeaver Visual Composer to execute OS commands, read/modify data, or cause denial of service.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.9 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 9 Jun 2022 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 14 Sep 2021
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-px4v-wj8p-cq36

## What is CVE-2021-38163?

CVE-2021-38163 is a critical vulnerability in Sap Netweaver, published on 14 Sep 2021. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

SAP NetWeaver (Visual Composer 7.0 RT) versions - 7.30, 7.31, 7.40, 7.50, without restriction, an attacker authenticated as a non-administrative user can upload a malicious file over a network and trigger its processing, which is capable of running operating system commands with the privilege of the Java Server process. These commands can be used to read or modify any information on the server or shut the server down making it unavailable.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-38163?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Sap Netweaver.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-38163?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-38163 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 30 Jun 2022.

## Is CVE-2021-38163 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2021-38163 in the wild since at least 9 Jun 2022.

Public exploit code:

- CVE-2021-38163 - exploit for SAP Netveawer (github_poc): https://github.com/core1impact/CVE-2021-38163
- CVE-2021-38163 - SAP NetWeaver AS Java Desynchronization Vulnerability (github_poc): https://github.com/purpleteam-ru/CVE-2021-38163

## Other vulnerabilities in Sap Netweaver

- [CVE-2025-31324](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-31324/): SAP NetWeaver Unrestricted File Upload (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-42999](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-42999/): SAP NetWeaver Deserialization (critical 9.1, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-6822](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6822/): XML external entity in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2011-1517](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-1517/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2013-1592](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-1592/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-38163 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-38163 is a critical vulnerability in Sap Netweaver, published on 14 Sep 2021. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2021-38163 in the wild since at least 9 Jun 2022.

Affected product: Sap Netweaver. 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-2021-38163/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-38163/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-38163
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-38163
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-38163

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-38163/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.