# CVE-2021-43266: Command injection in n/a

> Attackers can execute arbitrary code via shell metacharacters in collection names during PDF export in Mahara.

- **Severity:** High 7.3 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 2 Nov 2021
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-mq3r-9577-7hfp

## What is CVE-2021-43266?

CVE-2021-43266 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Mahara Mahara, published on 2 Nov 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

In Mahara before 20.04.5, 20.10.3, 21.04.2, and 21.10.0, exporting collections via PDF export could lead to code execution via shell metacharacters in a collection name. Additional, in Mahara before 20.10.4, 21.04.3, and 21.10.1, exporting collections via PDF export could cause code execution

Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-43266?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Mahara Mahara.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-43266?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-43266 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-43266 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-43266 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Mahara Mahara

- [CVE-2022-45134](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-45134/): Deserialization in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-44544](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-44544/): Command injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-40849](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-40849/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-1000152](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-1000152/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-1000153](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-1000153/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-43266 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-43266 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Mahara Mahara, published on 2 Nov 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-43266 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Mahara Mahara. 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-2021-43266/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-43266/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-43266
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-43266
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-43266

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-43266/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.