# CVE-2021-42568: Missing authorization in n/a

> Low-privileged attackers can access SSL certificate loading functions in Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager, potentially exposing sensitive configuration data.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.3 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 2 Nov 2021
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-jw4f-pgc8-4877

## What is CVE-2021-42568?

CVE-2021-42568 is a medium-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager, published on 2 Nov 2021. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager 3.x through 3.35.0 allows attackers to access the SSL Certificates Loading function via a low-privileged account.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-42568?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-42568?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-42568 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-42568 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-42568 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager

- [CVE-2019-7238](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-7238/): Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager Incorrect Access Control (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-9629](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-9629/): Hardcoded credentials in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-17717](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-17717/): Hardcoded credentials in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2026-3199](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-3199/): Nexus Repository 3 - Authenticated Remote Code Execution via Task Property Injection (critical 9.4)
- [CVE-2026-5189](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-5189/): Nexus Repository 3 - Hardcoded Credential in Internal Database Component (critical 9.2)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-42568 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-42568 is a medium-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager, published on 2 Nov 2021. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-42568 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager. 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-2021-42568/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-42568/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-42568
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-42568
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-42568

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-42568/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.