CVE-2021-32779
Incorrectly handling of URI '#fragment' element as part of the path element
Envoy is an open source L7 proxy and communication bus designed for large modern service oriented architectures. In affected versions envoy incorrectly handled a URI '#fragment' element as part of the path element. Envoy is configured with an RBAC filter for authorization or similar mechanism with an explicit case of a final "/admin" path element, or is using a negative assertion with final path element of "/admin". The client sends request to "/app1/admin#foo". In Envoy prior to 1.18.0, or 1.18.0+ configured with path_normalization=false. Envoy treats fragment as a suffix of the query string when present, or as a suffix of the path when query string is absent, so it evaluates the final path element as "/admin#foo" and mismatches with the configured "/admin" path element. In Envoy 1.18.0+ configured with path_normalization=true. Envoy transforms this to /app1/admin%23foo and mismatches with the configured /admin prefix. The resulting URI is sent to the next server-agent with the offending "#foo" fragment which violates RFC3986 or with the nonsensical "%23foo" text appended. A specifically constructed request with URI containing '#fragment' element delivered by an untrusted client in the presence of path based request authorization resulting in escalation of Privileges when path based request authorization extensions. Envoy versions 1.19.1, 1.18.4, 1.17.4, 1.16.5 contain fixes that removes fragment from URI path in incoming requests.
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
- None
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
8.6
Incorrectly handling of URI '#fragment' element as part of the path element
Envoy is an open source L7 proxy and communication bus designed for large modern service oriented architectures. In affected versions envoy incorrectly handled a URI '#fragment' element as part of the path element. Envoy is configured with an RBAC filter for authorization or similar mechanism with an explicit case of a final "/admin" path element, or is using a negative assertion with final path element of "/admin". The client sends request to "/app1/admin#foo". In Envoy prior to 1.18.0, or 1.18.0+ configured with path_normalization=false. Envoy treats fragment as a suffix of the query string when present, or as a suffix of the path when query string is absent, so it evaluates the final path element as "/admin#foo" and mismatches with the configured "/admin" path element. In Envoy 1.18.0+ configured with path_normalization=true. Envoy transforms this to /app1/admin%23foo and mismatches with the configured /admin prefix. The resulting URI is sent to the next server-agent with the offending "#foo" fragment which violates RFC3986 or with the nonsensical "%23foo" text appended. A specifically constructed request with URI containing '#fragment' element delivered by an untrusted client in the presence of path based request authorization resulting in escalation of Privileges when path based request authorization extensions. Envoy versions 1.19.1, 1.18.4, 1.17.4, 1.16.5 contain fixes that removes fragment from URI path in incoming requests.
- Record
CVE-2021-32779- CVSS 3.1
- 8.6 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-551, CWE-863
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2021-19543
8.6
Envoy is an open source L7 proxy and communication bus designed for large modern service oriented architectures. In affected versions envoy incorrectly handled a URI '#fragment' element as part of the path element. Envoy is configured with an RBAC filter for authorization or similar mechanism with an explicit case of a final "/admin" path element, or is using a negative assertion with final path element of "/admin". The client sends request to "/app1/admin#foo". In Envoy prior to 1.18.0, or 1.18.0+ configured with path_normalization=false. Envoy treats fragment as a suffix of the query string when present, or as a suffix of the path when query string is absent, so it evaluates the final path element as "/admin#foo" and mismatches with the configured "/admin" path element. In Envoy 1.18.0+ configured with path_normalization=true. Envoy transforms this to /app1/admin%23foo and mismatches with the configured /admin prefix. The resulting URI is sent to the next server-agent with the offending "#foo" fragment which violates RFC3986 or with the nonsensical "%23foo" text appended. A specifically constructed request with URI containing '#fragment' element delivered by an untrusted client in the presence of path based request authorization resulting in escalation of Privileges when path based request authorization extensions. Envoy versions 1.19.1, 1.18.4, 1.17.4, 1.16.5 contain fixes that removes fragment from URI path in incoming requests.
- Record
EUVD-2021-19543- CVSS 3.1
- 8.6 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-03
NVD
8.6
Envoy is an open source L7 proxy and communication bus designed for large modern service oriented architectures. In affected versions envoy incorrectly handled a URI '#fragment' element as part of the path element. Envoy is configured with an RBAC filter for authorization or similar mechanism with an explicit case of a final "/admin" path element, or is using a negative assertion with final path element of "/admin". The client sends request to "/app1/admin#foo". In Envoy prior to 1.18.0, or 1.18.0+ configured with path_normalization=false. Envoy treats fragment as a suffix of the query string when present, or as a suffix of the path when query string is absent, so it evaluates the final path element as "/admin#foo" and mismatches with the configured "/admin" path element. In Envoy 1.18.0+ configured with path_normalization=true. Envoy transforms this to /app1/admin%23foo and mismatches with the configured /admin prefix. The resulting URI is sent to the next server-agent with the offending "#foo" fragment which violates RFC3986 or with the nonsensical "%23foo" text appended. A specifically constructed request with URI containing '#fragment' element delivered by an untrusted client in the presence of path based request authorization resulting in escalation of Privileges when path based request authorization extensions. Envoy versions 1.19.1, 1.18.4, 1.17.4, 1.16.5 contain fixes that removes fragment from URI path in incoming requests.
- Record
CVE-2021-32779- CVSS 3.1
- 8.6 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N - CVSS 3.1
- 8.3 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L - CVSS 2.0
- 7.5 High
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P - Weakness
- CWE-551, CWE-863, CWE-697
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
8.3
Envoy is an open source L7 proxy and communication bus designed for large modern service oriented architectures. In affected versions envoy incorrectly handled a URI '#fragment' element as part of the path element. Envoy is configured with an RBAC filter for authorization or similar mechanism with an explicit case of a final "/admin" path element, or is using a negative assertion with final path element of "/admin". The client sends request to "/app1/admin#foo". In Envoy prior to 1.18.0, or 1.18.0+ configured with path_normalization=false. Envoy treats fragment as a suffix of the query string when present, or as a suffix of the path when query string is absent, so it evaluates the final path element as "/admin#foo" and mismatches with the configured "/admin" path element. In Envoy 1.18.0+ configured with path_normalization=true. Envoy transforms this to /app1/admin%23foo and mismatches with the configured /admin prefix. The resulting URI is sent to the next server-agent with the offending "#foo" fragment which violates RFC3986 or with the nonsensical "%23foo" text appended. A specifically constructed request with URI containing '#fragment' element delivered by an untrusted client in the presence of path based request authorization resulting in escalation of Privileges when path based request authorization extensions. Envoy versions 1.19.1, 1.18.4, 1.17.4, 1.16.5 contain fixes that removes fragment from URI path in incoming requests.
- Record
CVE-2021-32779- CVSS 3.1
- 8.3 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVRHSA-2021:3272
8.3
Red Hat Security Advisory: Red Hat OpenShift Service Mesh 2.0.7.1 security update
- Record
RHSA-2021:3272- CVSS 3.1
- 8.3 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVRHSA-2021:3273
8.3
Red Hat Security Advisory: Red Hat OpenShift Service Mesh 1.1.17.1 security update
- Record
RHSA-2021:3273- CVSS 3.1
- 8.3 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVBIT-envoy-2021-32779 No score
Incorrectly handling of URI '#fragment' element as part of the path element
Envoy is an open source L7 proxy and communication bus designed for large modern service oriented architectures. In affected versions envoy incorrectly handled a URI '#fragment' element as part of the path element. Envoy is configured with an RBAC filter for authorization or similar mechanism with an explicit case of a final "/admin" path element, or is using a negative assertion with final path element of "/admin". The client sends request to "/app1/admin#foo". In Envoy prior to 1.18.0, or 1.18.0+ configured with path_normalization=false. Envoy treats fragment as a suffix of the query string when present, or as a suffix of the path when query string is absent, so it evaluates the final path element as "/admin#foo" and mismatches with the configured "/admin" path element. In Envoy 1.18.0+ configured with path_normalization=true. Envoy transforms this to /app1/admin%23foo and mismatches with the configured /admin prefix. The resulting URI is sent to the next server-agent with the offending "#foo" fragment which violates RFC3986 or with the nonsensical "%23foo" text appended. A specifically constructed request with URI containing '#fragment' element delivered by an untrusted client in the presence of path based request authorization resulting in escalation of Privileges when path based request authorization extensions. Envoy versions 1.19.1, 1.18.4, 1.17.4, 1.16.5 contain fixes that removes fragment from URI path in incoming requests.
- Record
BIT-envoy-2021-32779- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
envoyBitnami |
1.16.0 up to 1.16.5, 1.17.0 up to 1.17.4, 1.18.0 up to 1.18.4, 1.19.0 up to 1.19.1 | 1.16.51.17.41.18.41.19.1 |
servicemesh-proxyRed Hat:service_mesh:2.0::el8 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:2.0.7-3.el8 | 0:2.0.7-3.el8 |
servicemeshRed Hat:service_mesh:2.0::el8 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:2.0.7-3.el8 | 0:2.0.7-3.el8 |
servicemesh-istioctlRed Hat:service_mesh:2.0::el8 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:2.0.7-3.el8 | 0:2.0.7-3.el8 |
servicemesh-mixcRed Hat:service_mesh:2.0::el8 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:2.0.7-3.el8 | 0:2.0.7-3.el8 |
servicemesh-mixsRed Hat:service_mesh:2.0::el8 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:2.0.7-3.el8 | 0:2.0.7-3.el8 |
servicemesh-pilot-agentRed Hat:service_mesh:2.0::el8 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:2.0.7-3.el8 | 0:2.0.7-3.el8 |
servicemesh-pilot-discoveryRed Hat:service_mesh:2.0::el8 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:2.0.7-3.el8 | 0:2.0.7-3.el8 |
servicemesh-proxyRed Hat:service_mesh:1.1::el8 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:1.1.17-2.el8 | 0:1.1.17-2.el8 |
servicemeshRed Hat:service_mesh:1.1::el8 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:1.1.17-3.el8 | 0:1.1.17-3.el8 |
Show 8 moreShow less
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
servicemesh-citadelRed Hat:service_mesh:1.1::el8 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:1.1.17-3.el8 | 0:1.1.17-3.el8 |
servicemesh-galleyRed Hat:service_mesh:1.1::el8 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:1.1.17-3.el8 | 0:1.1.17-3.el8 |
servicemesh-istioctlRed Hat:service_mesh:1.1::el8 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:1.1.17-3.el8 | 0:1.1.17-3.el8 |
servicemesh-mixcRed Hat:service_mesh:1.1::el8 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:1.1.17-3.el8 | 0:1.1.17-3.el8 |
servicemesh-mixsRed Hat:service_mesh:1.1::el8 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:1.1.17-3.el8 | 0:1.1.17-3.el8 |
servicemesh-pilot-agentRed Hat:service_mesh:1.1::el8 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:1.1.17-3.el8 | 0:1.1.17-3.el8 |
servicemesh-pilot-discoveryRed Hat:service_mesh:1.1::el8 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:1.1.17-3.el8 | 0:1.1.17-3.el8 |
servicemesh-sidecar-injectorRed Hat:service_mesh:1.1::el8 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:1.1.17-3.el8 | 0:1.1.17-3.el8 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| affected, facts | ||
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2021-32779 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.6) in Envoyproxy Envoy, published August 24, 2021. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.96%, the 61st percentile. Fixed in envoy 1.16.5.
References
envoyproxy.io/docs/envoy/v1.19.0/version_history/version_history
github.com/envoyproxy/envoy/security/advisories/GHSA-r222-74fw-jqr9
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-32779
access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2021:3272
access.redhat.com/security/updates/classification
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1996915
Show 22 moreShow less
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1996929
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1996933
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1996934
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1996935
security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/advisories/2021/rhsa-2021_3272.json
access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-32777
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-32777
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-32777
istio.io/latest/news/security/istio-security-2021-008
access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-32779
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-32779
access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-32781
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-32781
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-32781
access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-39155
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-39155
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-39155
access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-39156
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-39156
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-39156
access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2021:3273
security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/advisories/2021/rhsa-2021_3273.json