# CVE-2021-41381: Path traversal in n/a

> An attacker can exploit a directory traversal vulnerability in Payara Micro to read arbitrary files from the server.

- **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:** 23 Sep 2021
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-4fq8-3w3j-58jx

## What is CVE-2021-41381?

CVE-2021-41381 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 23 Sep 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Payara Micro Community 5.2021.6 and below allows Directory Traversal.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-41381?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Payara Micro Community.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-41381?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-41381 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-41381 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2021-41381 exists.

Public exploit code:

- I have come-up with a POC for Payara Micro Community 5.2021.6 - Directory Traversal, Please refer above reference field. (github_poc): https://github.com/Net-hunter121/CVE-2021-41381
- Payara Micro Community 5.2021.6 - Directory Traversal (exploitdb)
- Payara Micro Community 5.2021.6 Directory Traversal (nuclei): http/cves/2021/CVE-2021-41381.yaml

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-41381 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-41381 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 23 Sep 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-2021-41381 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-2021-41381/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-41381/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-41381
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-41381
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-41381

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-41381/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.