CVE-2021-3978
Improper Preservation of Permissions in github.com/cloudflare/cfrpki/cmd/octorpki
When copying files with rsync, octorpki uses the "-a" flag 0, which forces rsync to copy binaries with the suid bit set as root. Since the provided service definition defaults to root ( https://github.com/cloudflare/cfrpki/blob/master/package/octorpki.service ) this could allow for a vector, when combined with another vulnerability that causes octorpki to process a malicious TAL file, for a local privilege escalation.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- High
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- Required
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
7.5
Improper Preservation of Permissions in github.com/cloudflare/cfrpki/cmd/octorpki
When copying files with rsync, octorpki uses the "-a" flag 0, which forces rsync to copy binaries with the suid bit set as root. Since the provided service definition defaults to root ( https://github.com/cloudflare/cfrpki/blob/master/package/octorpki.service ) this could allow for a vector, when combined with another vulnerability that causes octorpki to process a malicious TAL file, for a local privilege escalation.
- Record
CVE-2021-3978- CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-269
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2021-2286
7.5
When copying files with rsync, octorpki uses the "-a" flag 0, which forces rsync to copy binaries with the suid bit set as root. Since the provided service definition defaults to root ( https://github.com/cloudflare/cfrpki/blob/master/package/octorpki.service ) this could allow for a vector, when combined with another vulnerability that causes octorpki to process a malicious TAL file, for a local privilege escalation.
- Record
EUVD-2021-2286- CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-3pqh-p72c-fj85
7.5
Improper Preservation of Permissions in github.com/cloudflare/cfrpki/cmd/octorpki
Impact
When copying files with rsync, octorpki uses the "-a" flag 0, which forces rsync to copy binaries with the suid bit set as root. Since the provided service definition defaults to root (https://github.com/cloudflare/cfrpki/blob/master/package/octorpki.service) this could allow for a vector, when combined with another vulnerability that causes octorpki to process a malicious TAL file, for a local privilege escalation.
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory email us at [email protected]
- Record
GHSA-3pqh-p72c-fj85- CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-269, CWE-281
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
7.5
When copying files with rsync, octorpki uses the "-a" flag 0, which forces rsync to copy binaries with the suid bit set as root. Since the provided service definition defaults to root ( https://github.com/cloudflare/cfrpki/blob/master/package/octorpki.service ) this could allow for a vector, when combined with another vulnerability that causes octorpki to process a malicious TAL file, for a local privilege escalation.
- Record
CVE-2021-3978- CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H - CVSS 3.1
- 5.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-269
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
5.5
When copying files with rsync, octorpki uses the "-a" flag 0, which forces rsync to copy binaries with the suid bit set as root. Since the provided service definition defaults to root ( https://github.com/cloudflare/cfrpki/blob/master/package/octorpki.service ) this could allow for a vector, when combined with another vulnerability that causes octorpki to process a malicious TAL file, for a local privilege escalation.
- Record
CVE-2021-3978- CVSS 3.1
- 5.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2021-3978
5.5
When copying files with rsync, octorpki uses the "-a" flag 0, which forces rsync to copy binaries with the suid bit set as root. Since the provided service definition defaults to root ( https://github.com/cloudflare/cfrpki/blob/master/package/octorpki.service ) this could allow for a vector, when combined with another vulnerability that causes octorpki to process a malicious TAL file, for a local privilege escalation.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2021-3978- CVSS 3.1
- 5.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-3pqh-p72c-fj85
7.5
Improper Preservation of Permissions in github.com/cloudflare/cfrpki/cmd/octorpki
Impact
When copying files with rsync, octorpki uses the "-a" flag 0, which forces rsync to copy binaries with the suid bit set as root. Since the provided service definition defaults to root (https://github.com/cloudflare/cfrpki/blob/master/package/octorpki.service) this could allow for a vector, when combined with another vulnerability that causes octorpki to process a malicious TAL file, for a local privilege escalation.
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory email us at [email protected]
- Record
GHSA-3pqh-p72c-fj85- CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-269, CWE-281
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2021-3978
7.5
When copying files with rsync, octorpki uses the "-a" flag 0, which forces rsync to copy binaries with the suid bit set as root. Since the provided service definition defaults to root ( https://github.com/cloudflare/cfrpki/blob/master/package/octorpki.service ) this could allow for a vector, when combined with another vulnerability that causes octorpki to process a malicious TAL file, for a local privilege escalation.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2021-3978- CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGO-2022-0580 No score
Improper Preservation of Permissions in github.com/cloudflare/cfrpki/cmd/octorpki in github.com/cloudflare/cfrpki
Improper Preservation of Permissions in github.com/cloudflare/cfrpki/cmd/octorpki in github.com/cloudflare/cfrpki
- Record
GO-2022-0580- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
github.com/cloudflare/cfrpkiGo |
before 1.4.2 | 1.4.2 |
cfrpkiDebian:12 |
before 1.4.2-1 | 1.4.2-1 |
cfrpkiDebian:11 From an advisory covering 10 CVEs |
before 1.4.2-1~deb11u1, plus listed versions 1.2.2-11.3.0-11.4.0-1 |
1.4.2-1~deb11u1 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| affected, facts | ||
| affected | ||
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2021-3978 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.5) in Cloudflare Octorpki, published November 19, 2021. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.14%, the 3rd percentile. Fixed in github.com/cloudflare/cfrpki 1.4.2.