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NVD / CVE Program· CNA redhat

CVE-2021-20271: A flaw was found in RPM's signature check functionality when reading a package file.

Noroxi assessment

Priority: Monitor (action score 28/100)

  • The sources we track (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, Metasploit, Nuclei, GitHub) show no public exploit code or exploitation in the wild.
  • Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 0.77% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 55.5% of all records.
  • Someone with local access to the system can trigger it. No account or password is required. A user must open a link or visit a page. Special conditions such as timing or configuration are required.
  • Fixed version: rpm (Debian:12) 4.16.1.2+dfsg1-1; python-rpm (openSUSE:Leap 15.2) 4.14.1-lp152.18.3.1; rpm (openSUSE:Leap 15.2) 4.14.1-lp152.18.3.1.
  • Mentioned 3 times in Turkish national cyber security advisories (siberguvenlik.gov.tr).

Low priority for now. Upgrade to rpm (Debian:12) 4.16.1.2+dfsg1-1; python-rpm (openSUSE:Leap 15.2) 4.14.1-lp152.18.3.1; rpm (openSUSE:Leap 15.2) 4.14.1-lp152.18.3.1 or later.

Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it

Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · FIRST EPSS

A flaw was found in RPM's signature check functionality when reading a package file. This flaw allows an attacker who can convince a victim to install a seemingly verifiable package, whose signature header was modified, to cause RPM database corruption and execute code. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to data integrity, confidentiality, and system availability.

HighCVSS 7.0 · v3.1—No exploit Fix available
Published
Mar 26, 2021
Updated
Jun 16, 2026
EPSS
0.7% · 55th percentile

Report tools

JSON

Action score

28

Monitor

Low priority for now.

CVSS
28 / 40 · 7.0 / 10
CISA KEV
0 / 30 · Not listed
EPSS
0 / 30 · 0.7%

Get told when this record changes

  • Not in KEV: no record of exploitation in the wild
  • No public exploit code on record
  • A fix has been released

If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.

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When you'll hear from us

  • when it enters CISA KEV
  • when exploit code appears or is weaponized
  • when the record is updated (including a fixed version)
  • when EPSS rises 20 points in a week

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Noroxi analysis

What does it mean in your environment?

The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.

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Affected systems

Is your version affected?

Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.

VendorProduct
rpmrpm
redhatenterprise linux
fedoraprojectfedora
starwindsoftwarestarwind virtual san

Affected versions

NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.

  • fedoraproject fedora32
  • fedoraproject fedora33
  • fedoraproject fedora34
  • redhat enterprise linux8.0
  • rpm rpm4.15.0 and later · before 4.15.1.3
  • rpm rpm4.16.0 and later · before 4.16.1.3
  • rpm rpm4.15.0
  • rpm rpm4.16.0
  • starwindsoftware starwind virtual sanv8

Versions reported by the vendor

Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (redhat). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.

  • n/a rpm

    • all versionsaffected

Package-level exposure

OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.

EcosystemPackageAffected rangeFix
Debian:12rpmbefore 4.16.1.2+dfsg1-14.16.1.2+dfsg1-1
openSUSE:Leap 15.2python-rpmbefore 4.14.1-lp152.18.3.14.14.1-lp152.18.3.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.2rpmbefore 4.14.1-lp152.18.3.14.14.1-lp152.18.3.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.3libdnfbefore 0.62.0-5.3.10.62.0-5.3.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.3python-rpmbefore 4.14.3-37.24.14.3-37.2
openSUSE:Leap 15.3rpmbefore 4.14.3-37.24.14.3-37.2
openSUSE:Leap 15.3rpm-ndbbefore 4.14.3-37.24.14.3-37.2
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientrpmbefore 0:4.11.3-48.el7_90:4.11.3-48.el7_9
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientrpm-apidocsbefore 0:4.11.3-48.el7_90:4.11.3-48.el7_9
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientrpm-buildbefore 0:4.11.3-48.el7_90:4.11.3-48.el7_9
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientrpm-build-libsbefore 0:4.11.3-48.el7_90:4.11.3-48.el7_9
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientrpm-cronbefore 0:4.11.3-48.el7_90:4.11.3-48.el7_9
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientrpm-debuginfobefore 0:4.11.3-48.el7_90:4.11.3-48.el7_9
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientrpm-develbefore 0:4.11.3-48.el7_90:4.11.3-48.el7_9
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientrpm-libsbefore 0:4.11.3-48.el7_90:4.11.3-48.el7_9
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientrpm-plugin-systemd-inhibitbefore 0:4.11.3-48.el7_90:4.11.3-48.el7_9
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientrpm-pythonbefore 0:4.11.3-48.el7_90:4.11.3-48.el7_9
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientrpm-signbefore 0:4.11.3-48.el7_90:4.11.3-48.el7_9
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreampython3-rpm-debuginfobefore 0:4.14.3-14.el8_40:4.14.3-14.el8_4
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamrpm-buildbefore 0:4.14.3-14.el8_40:4.14.3-14.el8_4
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamrpm-build-debuginfobefore 0:4.14.3-14.el8_40:4.14.3-14.el8_4
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamrpm-build-libs-debuginfobefore 0:4.14.3-14.el8_40:4.14.3-14.el8_4
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamrpm-debuginfobefore 0:4.14.3-14.el8_40:4.14.3-14.el8_4
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamrpm-debugsourcebefore 0:4.14.3-14.el8_40:4.14.3-14.el8_4

+82

Same product

rpm: all records

Other highest-scoring records for the same primary product.

  • CVE-2014-8118Integer overflow in RPM 4.12 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted CPIO header in the payload section
    42Plan
  • CVE-2011-3378RPM 4.4.x through 4.9.x, probably before 4.9.1.2, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) and possibly exec
    39Monitor
  • CVE-2013-6435Race condition in RPM 4.11.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted RPM file whose installation extract
    32Monitor

Published before and after this one in the same product

  • ← EarlierCVE-2017-7501Nov 22, 2017 · It was found that versions of rpm before 4.13.0.2 use temporary files with predictable names when installing an RPM.
    31Monitor
  • ← EarlierCVE-2017-7500Aug 13, 2018 · It was found that rpm did not properly handle RPM installations when a destination path was a symbolic link to a directory, possibly changin
    31Monitor
  • Later →CVE-2021-20266Apr 30, 2021 · A flaw was found in RPM's hdrblobInit() in lib/header.c.
    19Monitor

Remediation

Which version to upgrade to

Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.

Product / packageFixed versionSource
debian:rpm4.16.1.2+dfsg1-1 · Debian:12Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:libdnf0.62.0-5.3.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.3Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:python-rpm4.14.1-lp152.18.3.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.2Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:rpm4.14.1-lp152.18.3.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.2Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:rpm-ndb4.14.3-37.2 · openSUSE:Leap 15.3Package registry (OSV)
red hat:python3-rpm-debuginfo0:4.14.3-14.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:rpm-build0:4.14.3-14.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:rpm-build-debuginfo0:4.14.3-14.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:rpm-build-libs-debuginfo0:4.14.3-14.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:rpm-debuginfo0:4.14.3-14.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:rpm-debugsource0:4.14.3-14.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:rpm-devel-debuginfo0:4.14.3-14.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:rpm-libs-debuginfo0:4.14.3-14.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:rpm-plugin-fapolicyd0:4.14.3-14.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:rpm-plugin-fapolicyd-debuginfo0:4.14.3-14.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:rpm-plugin-ima-debuginfo0:4.14.3-14.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:rpm-plugin-prioreset-debuginfo0:4.14.3-14.el8_4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
rocky linux:rpm0:4.14.3-14.el8_4 · Rocky Linux:8Package registry (OSV)
suse:python-rpm4.14.3-37.2 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP3Package registry (OSV)
suse:python3-rpm4.11.2-16.26.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5Package registry (OSV)
suse:rpm4.14.3-37.2 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP3Package registry (OSV)
suse:rpm-ndb4.14.3-37.2 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15 SP3Package registry (OSV)
suse:rpm-python4.11.2-16.26.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5Package registry (OSV)

Exploit status

No known public exploit

No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.

Research context

For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.

Timeline

From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.

No dated events beyond publication.

EPSS, last 120 days

FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).

Patch and commit links

Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.

Credits

All researchers

Finders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.

No credits in the CNA record.

Variant candidates

Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.

No nightly-computed relations.

Chain candidates

An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.

—

Bug bounty scope

No known public program.

Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).

National notice (Türkiye Cybersecurity Directorate / USOM)

Official security notices citing this record; remediation advice is on the agency's page.

All national notices →

Technical details

Attack conditions

  • Someone with local access to the system can trigger it.
  • No account or password is required.
  • A user must open a link or visit a page.
  • Special conditions such as timing or configuration are required.

If successful

Confidentiality
high · data can be read
Integrity
high · data or configuration can be modified
Availability
high · the service can be disrupted
Attack vector
Local
Attack complexity
High
Privileges required
None
User interaction
Required
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality impact
High
Integrity impact
High
Availability impact
High

Weakness class (CWE)

CWE-345 · Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

nvd-primary

Attack context

MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.

Change log

  1. Fix✗ → ✓

For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →

References

Show all references (6 more)

Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.

All records