CVE DATABASE / CVE-2021-42013
CVE-2021-42013
Apache HTTP Server Path Traversal Vulnerability
Confirmed exploited in the wild. Added 2021-11-03.
Federal remediation due 2021-11-17.
Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Summary
It was found that the fix for CVE-2021-41773 in Apache HTTP Server 2.4.50 was insufficient. An attacker could use a path traversal attack to map URLs to files outside the directories configured by Alias-like directives. If files outside of these directories are not protected by the usual default configuration "require all denied", these requests can succeed. If CGI scripts are also enabled for these aliased pathes, this could allow for remote code execution. This issue only affects Apache 2.4.49 and Apache 2.4.50 and not earlier versions.
CVSS 3.1 breakdown
| Base score | 9.8 (CRITICAL) |
| Vector | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| Attack vector | NETWORK |
| Attack complexity | LOW |
| Privileges required | NONE |
| User interaction | NONE |
| Scope | UNCHANGED |
| Confidentiality | HIGH |
| Integrity | HIGH |
| Availability | HIGH |
Weakness type (CWE)
Affected products
Use our free CVE Lookup tool for the latest NVD record, or browse the full CISA KEV catalog.
References
- http://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN51106450/index.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/164501/Apache-HTTP-Server-2.4.50-Path-Traversal-Code-Execution.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/164609/Apache-HTTP-Server-2.4.50-Remote-Code-Execution.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/164629/Apache-2.4.49-2.4.50-Traversal-Remote-Code-Execution.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/164941/Apache-HTTP-Server-2.4.50-Remote-Code-Execution.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/165089/Apache-HTTP-Server-2.4.50-CVE-2021-42013-Exploitation.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/167397/Apache-2.4.50-Remote-Code-Execution.html
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/10/07/6
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/10/08/1
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/10/08/2
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/10/08/3
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/10/08/4
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/10/08/5
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/10/08/6
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/10/09/1
Data: NIST NVD + CISA KEV. NVD last modified 2025-10-27. Always verify against the vendor advisory before acting.