Every CVE Search/ Get API key

CVE-2021-29492

Bypass of path matching rules using escaped slash characters

8.1 HighFix available

Envoy is a cloud-native edge/middle/service proxy. Envoy does not decode escaped slash sequences %2F and %5C in HTTP URL paths in versions 1.18.2 and before. A remote attacker may craft a path with escaped slashes, e.g. /something%2F..%2Fadmin, to bypass access control, e.g. a block on /admin. A backend server could then decode slash sequences and normalize path and provide an attacker access beyond the scope provided for by the access control policy. ### Impact Escalation of Privileges when using RBAC or JWT filters with enforcement based on URL path. Users with back end servers that interpret %2F and / and %5C and \ interchangeably are impacted. ### Attack Vector URL paths containing escaped slash characters delivered by untrusted client. Patches in versions 1.18.3, 1.17.3, 1.16.4, 1.15.5 contain new path normalization option to decode escaped slash characters. As a workaround, if back end servers treat %2F and / and %5C and \ interchangeably and a URL path based access control is configured, one may reconfigure the back end server to not treat %2F and / and %5C and \ interchangeably.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Network
Complexity
High
Privileges needed
None
User interaction
None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Exploit likelihood

63.1%Up 62.6 points since May 29, 2021
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 8.1

Bypass of path matching rules using escaped slash characters

Envoy is a cloud-native edge/middle/service proxy. Envoy does not decode escaped slash sequences %2F and %5C in HTTP URL paths in versions 1.18.2 and before. A remote attacker may craft a path with escaped slashes, e.g. /something%2F..%2Fadmin, to bypass access control, e.g. a block on /admin. A backend server could then decode slash sequences and normalize path and provide an attacker access beyond the scope provided for by the access control policy. ### Impact Escalation of Privileges when using RBAC or JWT filters with enforcement based on URL path. Users with back end servers that interpret %2F and / and %5C and \ interchangeably are impacted. ### Attack Vector URL paths containing escaped slash characters delivered by untrusted client. Patches in versions 1.18.3, 1.17.3, 1.16.4, 1.15.5 contain new path normalization option to decode escaped slash characters. As a workaround, if back end servers treat %2F and / and %5C and \ interchangeably and a URL path based access control is configured, one may reconfigure the back end server to not treat %2F and / and %5C and \ interchangeably.

Record
CVE-2021-29492
CVSS 3.1
8.1 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness
CWE-22
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2021-16089 8.1

Envoy is a cloud-native edge/middle/service proxy. Envoy does not decode escaped slash sequences %2F and %5C in HTTP URL paths in versions 1.18.2 and before. A remote attacker may craft a path with escaped slashes, e.g. /something%2F..%2Fadmin, to bypass access control, e.g. a block on /admin. A backend server could then decode slash sequences and normalize path and provide an attacker access beyond the scope provided for by the access control policy. ### Impact Escalation of Privileges when using RBAC or JWT filters with enforcement based on URL path. Users with back end servers that interpret %2F and / and %5C and \ interchangeably are impacted. ### Attack Vector URL paths containing escaped slash characters delivered by untrusted client. Patches in versions 1.18.3, 1.17.3, 1.16.4, 1.15.5 contain new path normalization option to decode escaped slash characters. As a workaround, if back end servers treat %2F and / and %5C and \ interchangeably and a URL path based access control is configured, one may reconfigure the back end server to not treat %2F and / and %5C and \ interchangeably.

Record
EUVD-2021-16089
CVSS 3.1
8.1 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-03
NVD 8.1

Envoy is a cloud-native edge/middle/service proxy. Envoy does not decode escaped slash sequences %2F and %5C in HTTP URL paths in versions 1.18.2 and before. A remote attacker may craft a path with escaped slashes, e.g. /something%2F..%2Fadmin, to bypass access control, e.g. a block on /admin. A backend server could then decode slash sequences and normalize path and provide an attacker access beyond the scope provided for by the access control policy. ### Impact Escalation of Privileges when using RBAC or JWT filters with enforcement based on URL path. Users with back end servers that interpret %2F and / and %5C and \ interchangeably are impacted. ### Attack Vector URL paths containing escaped slash characters delivered by untrusted client. Patches in versions 1.18.3, 1.17.3, 1.16.4, 1.15.5 contain new path normalization option to decode escaped slash characters. As a workaround, if back end servers treat %2F and / and %5C and \ interchangeably and a URL path based access control is configured, one may reconfigure the back end server to not treat %2F and / and %5C and \ interchangeably.

Record
CVE-2021-29492
CVSS 3.1
8.1 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 3.1
8.3 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L
CVSS 2.0
7.5 HighAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
Weakness
CWE-22
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV 8.3

Envoy is a cloud-native edge/middle/service proxy. Envoy does not decode escaped slash sequences %2F and %5C in HTTP URL paths in versions 1.18.2 and before. A remote attacker may craft a path with escaped slashes, e.g. /something%2F..%2Fadmin, to bypass access control, e.g. a block on /admin. A backend server could then decode slash sequences and normalize path and provide an attacker access beyond the scope provided for by the access control policy. ### Impact Escalation of Privileges when using RBAC or JWT filters with enforcement based on URL path. Users with back end servers that interpret %2F and / and %5C and \ interchangeably are impacted. ### Attack Vector URL paths containing escaped slash characters delivered by untrusted client. Patches in versions 1.18.3, 1.17.3, 1.16.4, 1.15.5 contain new path normalization option to decode escaped slash characters. As a workaround, if back end servers treat %2F and / and %5C and \ interchangeably and a URL path based access control is configured, one may reconfigure the back end server to not treat %2F and / and %5C and \ interchangeably.

Record
CVE-2021-29492
CVSS 3.1
8.3 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVRHSA-2021:1538 8.3

Red Hat Security Advisory: Red Hat OpenShift Service Mesh 2.0.4 security update

Record
RHSA-2021:1538
CVSS 3.1
8.3 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVRHSA-2021:1540 8.3

Red Hat Security Advisory: Red Hat OpenShift Service Mesh 1.1.14 security update

Record
RHSA-2021:1540
CVSS 3.1
8.3 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVBIT-envoy-2021-29492 No score

Bypass of path matching rules using escaped slash characters

Envoy is a cloud-native edge/middle/service proxy. Envoy does not decode escaped slash sequences %2F and %5C in HTTP URL paths in versions 1.18.2 and before. A remote attacker may craft a path with escaped slashes, e.g. /something%2F..%2Fadmin, to bypass access control, e.g. a block on /admin. A backend server could then decode slash sequences and normalize path and provide an attacker access beyond the scope provided for by the access control policy. ### Impact Escalation of Privileges when using RBAC or JWT filters with enforcement based on URL path. Users with back end servers that interpret %2F and / and %5C and \ interchangeably are impacted. ### Attack Vector URL paths containing escaped slash characters delivered by untrusted client. Patches in versions 1.18.3, 1.17.3, 1.16.4, 1.15.5 contain new path normalization option to decode escaped slash characters. As a workaround, if back end servers treat %2F and / and %5C and \ interchangeably and a URL path based access control is configured, one may reconfigure the back end server to not treat %2F and / and %5C and \ interchangeably.

Record
BIT-envoy-2021-29492
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
envoy
Bitnami
before 1.15.5, 1.16.0 up to 1.16.4, 1.17.0 up to 1.17.3, 1.18.0 up to 1.18.3
1.15.51.16.41.17.31.18.3
servicemesh-operator
Red Hat:service_mesh:2.0::el8
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 0:2.0.4-3.el8
0:2.0.4-3.el8
servicemesh-proxy
Red Hat:service_mesh:2.0::el8
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 0:2.0.4-1.el8
0:2.0.4-1.el8
servicemesh
Red Hat:service_mesh:2.0::el8
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 0:2.0.4-1.el8
0:2.0.4-1.el8
servicemesh-istioctl
Red Hat:service_mesh:2.0::el8
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 0:2.0.4-1.el8
0:2.0.4-1.el8
servicemesh-mixc
Red Hat:service_mesh:2.0::el8
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 0:2.0.4-1.el8
0:2.0.4-1.el8
servicemesh-mixs
Red Hat:service_mesh:2.0::el8
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 0:2.0.4-1.el8
0:2.0.4-1.el8
servicemesh-pilot-agent
Red Hat:service_mesh:2.0::el8
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 0:2.0.4-1.el8
0:2.0.4-1.el8
servicemesh-pilot-discovery
Red Hat:service_mesh:2.0::el8
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 0:2.0.4-1.el8
0:2.0.4-1.el8
servicemesh-proxy
Red Hat:service_mesh:1.1::el8
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 0:1.1.14-1.el8
0:1.1.14-1.el8
Show 9 moreShow less
Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
servicemesh
Red Hat:service_mesh:1.1::el8
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 0:1.1.14-1.el8
0:1.1.14-1.el8
servicemesh-citadel
Red Hat:service_mesh:1.1::el8
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 0:1.1.14-1.el8
0:1.1.14-1.el8
servicemesh-galley
Red Hat:service_mesh:1.1::el8
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 0:1.1.14-1.el8
0:1.1.14-1.el8
servicemesh-istioctl
Red Hat:service_mesh:1.1::el8
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 0:1.1.14-1.el8
0:1.1.14-1.el8
servicemesh-mixc
Red Hat:service_mesh:1.1::el8
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 0:1.1.14-1.el8
0:1.1.14-1.el8
servicemesh-mixs
Red Hat:service_mesh:1.1::el8
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 0:1.1.14-1.el8
0:1.1.14-1.el8
servicemesh-pilot-agent
Red Hat:service_mesh:1.1::el8
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 0:1.1.14-1.el8
0:1.1.14-1.el8
servicemesh-pilot-discovery
Red Hat:service_mesh:1.1::el8
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 0:1.1.14-1.el8
0:1.1.14-1.el8
servicemesh-sidecar-injector
Red Hat:service_mesh:1.1::el8
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 0:1.1.14-1.el8
0:1.1.14-1.el8

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
affected, facts
aliasesEUVD
first indexedCVE List, NVD, OSV

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

In short

CVE-2021-29492 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.1) in Envoyproxy Envoy, published May 28, 2021. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 63.1%, the 99th percentile. Fixed in envoy 1.15.5.

References

Show 10 moreShow less
MoveEnter Open