CVE-2021-22160

Authentication with JWT allows use of “none”-algorithm

9.8 CriticalFix available

If Apache Pulsar is configured to authenticate clients using tokens based on JSON Web Tokens (JWT), the signature of the token is not validated if the algorithm of the presented token is set to "none". This allows an attacker to connect to Pulsar instances as any user (incl. admins).

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector: Network
Complexity: Low
Privileges needed: None
User interaction: None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality: High
Integrity: High
Availability: High

Exploit likelihood

52.9%Up 52.5 points since May 27, 2021

What each source reports

NVD Score used 9.8

Record: CVE-2021-22160
CVSS 3.1: 9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 2.0: 7.5 HighAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
Weakness: CWE-347
Updated: 2026-11-02

CVE List No score

Authentication with JWT allows use of “none”-algorithm

Record: CVE-2021-22160
Updated: 2026-11-02

EUVDEUVD-2021-1254 No score

Record: EUVD-2021-1254
Updated: 2026-11-03

GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-3cv4-xxv7-934q 9.8

Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature in Apache Pulsar in TensorFlow

Record: GHSA-3cv4-xxv7-934q
CVSS 3.1: 9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness: CWE-347
Updated: 2026-11-02

OSV 9.8

Record: CVE-2021-22160
CVSS 3.1: 9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated: 2026-11-02

OSVGHSA-3cv4-xxv7-934q 9.8

Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature in Apache Pulsar in TensorFlow

Record: GHSA-3cv4-xxv7-934q
CVSS 3.1: 9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness: CWE-347
Updated: 2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
Package	Affected	Fixed
`org.apache.pulsar:pulsar` Maven	before 2.7.2	2.7.2
`org.apache.pulsar:pulsar` Maven	before 2.7.2, plus listed versions 1.19.0-incubating1.20.0-incubating1.21.0-incubating1.22.0-incubating1.22.1-incubating Show 22 moreShow less 2.0.0-rc1-incubating2.0.1-incubating2.1.0-incubating2.1.1-incubating2.2.02.2.12.3.02.3.12.3.22.4.02.4.12.4.22.5.02.5.12.5.22.6.02.6.12.6.22.6.32.6.42.7.02.7.1	2.7.2

History

History
Recorded	Changed	Sources
Nov 3, 2026	aliases	EUVD
Nov 2, 2026	first indexed	CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2021-22160 is a critical vulnerability (CVSS 9.8) in Apache Pulsar, published May 26, 2021. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 52.9%, the 98th percentile. Fixed in org.apache.pulsar:pulsar 2.7.2.

References

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