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CVE-2021-3978

Improper Preservation of Permissions in github.com/cloudflare/cfrpki/cmd/octorpki

7.5 HighFix available

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

0.14%Up 0.1 points since Jan 30, 2025
90%50%10%1%

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 HighCVSS: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 HighCVSS: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 HighCVSS: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 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 3.1
5.5 MediumCVSS: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 MediumCVSS: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 MediumCVSS: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 HighCVSS: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 HighCVSS: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

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
github.com/cloudflare/cfrpki
Go
before 1.4.2
1.4.2
cfrpki
Debian:12
before 1.4.2-1
1.4.2-1
cfrpki
Debian: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

History
RecordedChangedSources
affected, facts
affected
aliasesEUVD
first indexedCVE 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.

References

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