# CVE-2021-45467: Missing authorization in n/a

> Unauthenticated attackers can bypass authorization in CWP to register arbitrary API keys, leading to privilege escalation and account takeover.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 26 Dec 2022
- **Updated:** 12 Apr 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-4xcw-rcp3-wq4p

## What is CVE-2021-45467?

CVE-2021-45467 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability in Control-Webpanel Webpanel, published on 26 Dec 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In CWP (aka Control Web Panel or CentOS Web Panel) before 0.9.8.1107, an unauthenticated attacker can use %00 bytes to cause /user/loader.php to register an arbitrary API key, as demonstrated by a /user/loader.php?api=1&scripts= .%00./.%00./api/account_new_create&acc=guadaapi URI. Any number of %00 instances can be used, e.g., .%00%00%00./.%00%00%00./api/account_new_create could also be used for the scripts parameter.

Weakness: CWE-862 (Missing Authorization)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-45467?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Control-Webpanel Webpanel.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-45467?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-45467 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-45467 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2021-45467 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Control Web Panel (CWP) - File Inclusion (nuclei): http/cves/2021/CVE-2021-45467.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in Control-Webpanel Webpanel

- [CVE-2022-44877](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-44877/): CWP Control Web Panel OS Command Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-48703](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-48703/): CWP Control Web Panel OS Command Injection (critical 9.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-42121](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-42121/): Control Web Panel Missing Authentication Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-45466](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-45466/): Missing authorization in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-25046](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-25046/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-45467 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-45467 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability in Control-Webpanel Webpanel, published on 26 Dec 2022. 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-2021-45467 exists.

Affected product: Control-Webpanel Webpanel. 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-2021-45467/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-45467/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-45467
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-45467
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-45467

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-45467/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.