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CVE-2021-28235

Etcd-io Improper Authentication vulnerability

9.8 CriticalPublic exploitFix available

Authentication vulnerability found in Etcd-io v.3.4.10 allows remote attackers to escalate privileges via the debug function.

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

1.62%Up 1.6 points since Apr 5, 2023
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

NVD Score used 9.8

Authentication vulnerability found in Etcd-io v.3.4.10 allows remote attackers to escalate privileges via the debug function.

Record
CVE-2021-28235
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-287
Updated
2026-11-02
CVE List No score

Authentication vulnerability found in Etcd-io v.3.4.10 allows remote attackers to escalate privileges via the debug function.

Record
CVE-2021-28235
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2023-1310 No score

Authentication vulnerability found in Etcd-io v.3.4.10 allows remote attackers to escalate privileges via the debug function.

Record
EUVD-2023-1310
Updated
2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-gmph-wf7j-9gcm 9.8

Etcd-io Improper Authentication vulnerability

Authentication vulnerability found in Etcd-io v.3.4.10 allows remote attackers to escalate privileges via the debug function.

This has been fixed in v.3.5.8 and was also backported to 3.4 and 3.5.

Record
GHSA-gmph-wf7j-9gcm
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-287
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVAZL-26139 9.8

CVE-2021-28235 affecting package etcd for versions less than 3.5.4-6

Authentication vulnerability found in Etcd-io v.3.4.10 allows remote attackers to escalate privileges via the debug function.

Record
AZL-26139
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
OSV 9.8

Authentication vulnerability found in Etcd-io v.3.4.10 allows remote attackers to escalate privileges via the debug function.

Record
CVE-2021-28235
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
Show 17 moreShow less
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2021-28235 9.8

Authentication vulnerability found in Etcd-io v.3.4.10 allows remote attackers to escalate privileges via the debug function.

Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2021-28235
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-gmph-wf7j-9gcm 9.8

Etcd-io Improper Authentication vulnerability

Authentication vulnerability found in Etcd-io v.3.4.10 allows remote attackers to escalate privileges via the debug function.

This has been fixed in v.3.5.8 and was also backported to 3.4 and 3.5.

Record
GHSA-gmph-wf7j-9gcm
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-287
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVOESA-2025-1168 9.8

etcd security update

%{expand:

Security Fix(es):

Authentication vulnerability found in Etcd-io v.3.4.10 allows remote attackers to escalate privileges via the debug function.(CVE-2021-28235)

Parsing malicious or large YAML documents can consume excessive amounts of CPU or memory.(CVE-2022-3064)

Etcd v3.5.4 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via function PageWriter.write in pagewriter.go. NOTE: the vendor's position is that this is not a vulnerability.(CVE-2022-34038)

A maliciously crafted HTTP/2 stream could cause excessive CPU consumption in the HPACK decoder, sufficient to cause a denial of service from a small number of small requests.(CVE-2022-41723)

etcd is a distributed key-value store for the data of a distributed system. Prior to versions 3.4.26 and 3.5.9, the LeaseTimeToLive API allows access to key names (not value) associated to a lease when Keys parameter is true, even a user doesn't have read permission to the keys. The impact is limited to a cluster which enables auth (RBAC). Versions 3.4.26 and 3.5.9 fix this issue. There are no known workarounds.(CVE-2023-32082)

Record
OESA-2025-1168
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
OSVOESA-2025-1169 9.8

etcd security update

%{expand:

Security Fix(es):

Authentication vulnerability found in Etcd-io v.3.4.10 allows remote attackers to escalate privileges via the debug function.(CVE-2021-28235)

Parsing malicious or large YAML documents can consume excessive amounts of CPU or memory.(CVE-2022-3064)

Etcd v3.5.4 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via function PageWriter.write in pagewriter.go. NOTE: the vendor's position is that this is not a vulnerability.(CVE-2022-34038)

A maliciously crafted HTTP/2 stream could cause excessive CPU consumption in the HPACK decoder, sufficient to cause a denial of service from a small number of small requests.(CVE-2022-41723)

etcd is a distributed key-value store for the data of a distributed system. Prior to versions 3.4.26 and 3.5.9, the LeaseTimeToLive API allows access to key names (not value) associated to a lease when Keys parameter is true, even a user doesn't have read permission to the keys. The impact is limited to a cluster which enables auth (RBAC). Versions 3.4.26 and 3.5.9 fix this issue. There are no known workarounds.(CVE-2023-32082)

Record
OESA-2025-1169
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
OSVOESA-2025-1170 9.8

etcd security update

%{expand:

Security Fix(es):

Authentication vulnerability found in Etcd-io v.3.4.10 allows remote attackers to escalate privileges via the debug function.(CVE-2021-28235)

Parsing malicious or large YAML documents can consume excessive amounts of CPU or memory.(CVE-2022-3064)

Etcd v3.5.4 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via function PageWriter.write in pagewriter.go. NOTE: the vendor's position is that this is not a vulnerability.(CVE-2022-34038)

A maliciously crafted HTTP/2 stream could cause excessive CPU consumption in the HPACK decoder, sufficient to cause a denial of service from a small number of small requests.(CVE-2022-41723)

etcd is a distributed key-value store for the data of a distributed system. Prior to versions 3.4.26 and 3.5.9, the LeaseTimeToLive API allows access to key names (not value) associated to a lease when Keys parameter is true, even a user doesn't have read permission to the keys. The impact is limited to a cluster which enables auth (RBAC). Versions 3.4.26 and 3.5.9 fix this issue. There are no known workarounds.(CVE-2023-32082)

Record
OESA-2025-1170
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
OSVRHSA-2023:3441 9.8

Red Hat Security Advisory: Red Hat OpenStack Platform 17.0 (etcd) security update

Record
RHSA-2023:3441
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
OSVRHSA-2023:3445 9.8

Red Hat Security Advisory: Red Hat OpenStack Platform 16.2 (etcd) security update

Record
RHSA-2023:3445
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
OSVRHSA-2023:3447 9.8

Red Hat Security Advisory: Red Hat OpenStack Platform 16.1 (etcd) security update

Record
RHSA-2023:3447
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
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2021-28235 9.8

Authentication vulnerability found in Etcd-io v.3.4.10 allows remote attackers to escalate privileges via the debug function.

Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2021-28235
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
OSVBIT-etcd-2021-28235 No score

Authentication vulnerability found in Etcd-io v.3.4.10 allows remote attackers to escalate privileges via the debug function.

Record
BIT-etcd-2021-28235
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2024:12896-1 No score

etcd-3.5.8-1.1 on GA media

These are all security issues fixed in the etcd-3.5.8-1.1 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.

Record
openSUSE-SU-2024:12896-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2024:13369-1 No score

etcd-for-k8s1.25-3.5.9-1.1 on GA media

These are all security issues fixed in the etcd-for-k8s1.25-3.5.9-1.1 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.

Record
openSUSE-SU-2024:13369-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2024:13370-1 No score

etcd-for-k8s1.26-3.5.9-1.1 on GA media

These are all security issues fixed in the etcd-for-k8s1.26-3.5.9-1.1 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.

Record
openSUSE-SU-2024:13370-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2024:13371-1 No score

etcd-for-k8s1.27-3.5.9-1.1 on GA media

These are all security issues fixed in the etcd-for-k8s1.27-3.5.9-1.1 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.

Record
openSUSE-SU-2024:13371-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2025:0003-1 No score

Security update for etcd

This update for etcd fixes the following issues:

Update to version 3.5.12:

  • Bump golang.org/x/crypto to v0.17+ to address CVE-2023-48795
  • test: fix TestHashKVWhenCompacting: ensure all goroutine finished
  • print error log when creating peer listener failed
  • mvcc: Printing etcd backend database related metrics inside scheduleCompaction function
  • dependency: update go version to 1.20.13
  • commit bbolt transaction if there is any pending deleting operations
  • add tests to test tx delete consistency.
  • Don't flock snapshot files
  • Backport adding digest for etcd base image.
  • Add a unit tests and missing flags in etcd help.
  • Add missing flag in etcd help.
  • Backport testutils.ExecuteUntil to 3.5 branch
  • member replace e2e test
  • Check if be is nil to avoid panic when be is overriden with nil by recoverSnapshotBackend on line 517
  • Don't redeclare err and snapshot variable, fixing validation of consistent index and closing database on defer
  • test: enable gofail in release e2e test.
  • [3.5] backport health check e2e tests.
  • tests: Extract e2e cluster setup to separate package
  • Update to version 3.5.11:

    • etcdserver: add linearizable_read check to readyz.
    • etcd: Update go version to 1.20.12
    • server: disable redirects in peer communication
    • etcdserver: add metric counters for livez/readyz health checks.
    • etcdserver: add livez and ready http endpoints for etcd.
    • http health check bug fixes
    • server: Split metrics and health code
    • server: Cover V3 health with tests
    • server: Refactor health checks
    • server: Run health check tests in subtests
    • server: Rename test case expect fields
    • server: Use named struct initialization in healthcheck test
    • Backport server: Don't follow redirects when checking peer urls.
    • Backport embed: Add tracing integration test.
    • Backport server: Have tracingExporter own resources it initialises.
    • Backport server: Add sampling rate to distributed tracing.
    • upgrade github.com/stretchr/testify,google.golang.org/genproto/googleapis/api,google.golang.org/grpc to make it consistent
    • CVE-2023-47108: Backport go.opentelemetry.io/[email protected] and go.opentelemetry.io/contrib/instrumentation/google.golang.org/grpc/[email protected]
    • github workflow: run arm64 tests on every push
    • etcd: upgrade go version from 1.20.10 to 1.20.11
    • bump bbolt to 1.3.8 for etcd 3.5
    • 3.5: upgrade gRPC-go to 1.58.3
    • Backport corrupt check test fix 'etcd server shouldn't wait for the ready notification infinitely on startup'
    • etcdserver: add cluster id check for hashKVHandler
    • [release-3.5]: upgrade gRPC-go to v1.52.0
    • backport #14125 to release-3.5: Update to grpc-1.47 (and fix the connection-string format)
    • Return to default write scheduler since golang.org/x/[email protected] started using round robin
    • Bump go to v1.20.10 Part of https://github.com/etcd-io/etcd/issues/16740
    • bump golang.org/x/net to 0.17.0 Part of https://github.com/etcd-io/etcd/issues/16740
    • etcd: upgrade go version to 1.20.9
    • Remove obsolete http 1.0 version.
    • fix:Ensure that go version is only defined in one file for release-3.5
    • Fix panic in etcd validate secure endpoints
    • dependency: bump golang to 1.20.8
    • Backport redirect metrics data into file to reduce output.
    • test.sh: increase timeout for grpcproxy test
    • test: add v3 curl test to cover maintenance hash/hashkv REST API
    • api: fix duplicate gateway url issue
    • pkg: add a verification on the pagebytes which must be > 0
    • tests: Backport deflake for TestWatchDelay
    • tests: Backport deflake for TestPageWriterRandom
    • Backport adding unit test for socket options.
    • Backport export reuse-port and reuse-address
    • Fix goword failure in rafthttp/transport.go.
    • Backport update to golang 1.20 minor release.
    • bump go version to 1.19.12
    • Update workflows to use makefile recipes for unit, integration & e2e-release.
    • Backport Makefile recipes for common test…
Record
openSUSE-SU-2025:0003-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2024:3656-1 No score

Security update for etcd

This update for etcd fixes the following issues:

Update to version 3.5.12:

Security fixes:

  • CVE-2018-16873: Fixed remote command execution in cmd/go (bsc#1118897)
  • CVE-2018-16874: Fixed directory traversal in cmd/go (bsc#1118898)
  • CVE-2018-16875: Fixed CPU denial of service in crypto/x509 (bsc#1118899)
  • CVE-2018-16886: Fixed improper authentication issue when RBAC and client-cert-auth is enabled (bsc#1121850)
  • CVE-2020-15106: Fixed panic in decodeRecord method (bsc#1174951)
  • CVE-2020-15112: Fixed improper checks in entry index (bsc#1174951)
  • CVE-2021-28235: Fixed information discosure via debug function (bsc#1210138)
  • CVE-2022-41723: Fixed quadratic complexity in HPACK decoding in net/http (bsc#1208270, bsc#1208297)
  • CVE-2023-29406: Fixed insufficient sanitization of Host header in go net/http (bsc#1213229)
  • CVE-2023-47108: Fixed DoS vulnerability in otelgrpc (bsc#1217070)
  • CVE-2023-48795: Fixed prefix truncation breaking ssh channel integrity (aka Terrapin Attack) in crypto/ssh (bsc#1217950, bsc#1218150)

Other changes:

  • Added hardening to systemd service(s) (bsc#1181400)
  • Fixed static /tmp file issue (bsc#1199031)
  • Fixed systemd service not starting (bsc#1183703)

Full changelog:

https://github.com/etcd-io/etcd/compare/v3.3.1...v3.5.12

Record
SUSE-SU-2024:3656-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUSN-6189-1 No score

etcd vulnerability

It was discovered that etcd leaked credentials when debugging was enabled. This allowed remote attackers to discover etcd authentication credentials and possibly escalate privileges on systems using etcd.

Record
USN-6189-1
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
go.etcd.io/etcd/v3
Go
3.4.10 to 3.4.10 None known
etcd
Azure Linux:2
before 3.5.4-6
3.5.4-6
etcd
Bitnami
3.4.10 up to 3.4.11
3.4.11
etcd
Debian:12
All versions, plus listed versions
3.4.23-43.4.23-53.4.23-63.4.30-13.4.30-2
Show 25 moreShow less
3.4.30-33.5.15-13.5.15-23.5.15-33.5.15-43.5.15-53.5.15-63.5.15-73.5.16-13.5.16-103.5.16-113.5.16-23.5.16-33.5.16-43.5.16-53.5.16-63.5.16-73.5.16-83.5.16-93.5.22-13.5.22-23.5.30-1~exp13.5.30-1~exp23.5.30-23.5.5-1
None known
etcd
Debian:13
before 3.4.30-1
3.4.30-1
etcd
Debian:14
before 3.4.30-1
3.4.30-1
go.etcd.io/etcd/v3
Go
Listed versions
3.4.10
None known
etcd
openEuler:20.03-LTS-SP4
before 3.4.14-9.oe2003sp4
3.4.14-9.oe2003sp4
etcd
openEuler:22.03-LTS-SP3
before 3.4.14-8.oe2203sp3
3.4.14-8.oe2203sp3
etcd
openEuler:22.03-LTS-SP4
before 3.4.14-11.oe2203sp4
3.4.14-11.oe2203sp4
Show 25 moreShow less
Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
etcd
Red Hat:openstack:17.0::el9
before 0:3.4.26-1.el9ost
0:3.4.26-1.el9ost
etcd-debuginfo
Red Hat:openstack:17.0::el9
before 0:3.4.26-1.el9ost
0:3.4.26-1.el9ost
etcd-debugsource
Red Hat:openstack:17.0::el9
before 0:3.4.26-1.el9ost
0:3.4.26-1.el9ost
etcd
Red Hat:openstack:16.2::el8
before 0:3.3.23-14.el8ost
0:3.3.23-14.el8ost
etcd-debuginfo
Red Hat:openstack:16.2::el8
before 0:3.3.23-14.el8ost
0:3.3.23-14.el8ost
etcd-debugsource
Red Hat:openstack:16.2::el8
before 0:3.3.23-14.el8ost
0:3.3.23-14.el8ost
etcd
Red Hat:openstack:16.1::el8
before 0:3.3.23-14.el8ost
0:3.3.23-14.el8ost
etcd-debuginfo
Red Hat:openstack:16.1::el8
before 0:3.3.23-14.el8ost
0:3.3.23-14.el8ost
etcd-debugsource
Red Hat:openstack:16.1::el8
before 0:3.3.23-14.el8ost
0:3.3.23-14.el8ost
etcd
openSUSE:Leap 15.5
before 3.5.12-150000.7.6.1
3.5.12-150000.7.6.1
etcd
openSUSE:Leap 15.6
before 3.5.12-150000.7.6.1
3.5.12-150000.7.6.1
etcd
Ubuntu:16.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
2.2.0+dfsg-22.2.1+dfsg-12.2.2+dfsg-12.2.2+dfsg-22.2.3+dfsg-12.2.5+dfsg-12.2.5+dfsg-1ubuntu1
None known
etcd
Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS
before 3.2.17+dfsg-1ubuntu0.1+esm2, plus listed versions
3.1.0-13.2.9+dfsg-23.2.9+dfsg-33.2.17+dfsg-13.2.17+dfsg-1ubuntu0.1~esm13.2.17+dfsg-1ubuntu0.13.2.17+dfsg-1ubuntu0.1+esm1
3.2.17+dfsg-1ubuntu0.1+esm2
etcd
Ubuntu:Pro:20.04:LTS
before 3.2.26+dfsg-6ubuntu0.2+esm1, plus listed versions
3.2.26+dfsg-33.2.26+dfsg-43.2.26+dfsg-63.2.26+dfsg-6ubuntu0.13.2.26+dfsg-6ubuntu0.2
3.2.26+dfsg-6ubuntu0.2+esm1
etcd
Ubuntu:Pro:22.04:LTS
before 3.3.25+dfsg-7ubuntu0.22.04.1+esm1, plus listed versions
3.3.25+dfsg-63.3.25+dfsg-73.3.25+dfsg-7ubuntu0.22.04.1
3.3.25+dfsg-7ubuntu0.22.04.1+esm1
etcd
Ubuntu:Pro:24.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
3.4.23-4ubuntu23.4.30-13.4.30-1build13.4.30-1ubuntu0.24.04.13.4.30-1ubuntu0.24.04.2
Show 4 moreShow less
3.4.30-1ubuntu0.24.04.2+esm13.4.30-1ubuntu0.24.04.33.4.30-1ubuntu0.24.04.3+esm13.4.30-1ubuntu0.24.04.3+esm2
None known
etcd
Ubuntu:25.10
All versions, plus listed versions
3.5.16-4
None known
etcd
Ubuntu:26.10
All versions, plus listed versions
3.5.16-103.5.30-2
None known
etcd
Ubuntu:Pro:26.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
3.5.16-43.5.16-103.5.16-10ubuntu0.26.04.1~esm1
None known
etcd
openSUSE:Tumbleweed
before 3.5.8-1.1
3.5.8-1.1
etcd-for-k8s1.25
openSUSE:Tumbleweed
before 3.5.9-1.1
3.5.9-1.1
etcd-for-k8s1.26
openSUSE:Tumbleweed
before 3.5.9-1.1
3.5.9-1.1
etcd-for-k8s1.27
openSUSE:Tumbleweed
before 3.5.9-1.1
3.5.9-1.1
etcd
SUSE:Package Hub 15 SP6
before 3.5.12-bp156.4.3.1
3.5.12-bp156.4.3.1
etcd
openSUSE:Leap 15.6
before 3.5.12-bp156.4.3.1
3.5.12-bp156.4.3.1

Public exploits

Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.

Public exploits
SourceLinkDate
PoC in GitHubh3ck13r/CVE-2021-282352026-07-10

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
first indexedCVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV, PoC in GitHub

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

In short

CVE-2021-28235 is a critical vulnerability (CVSS 9.8) in Etcd, published April 4, 2023. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 1.62%, the 76th percentile. Fixed in etcd 3.5.4-6.

References

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This page doesn't list everything

Left out here: the rest of 1 source description. The JSON record has them.

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