CVE-2021-43798: Grafana path traversal
Noroxi assessment
Priority: Now (action score 87/100)
- CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild (Oct 9, 2025). Remediation deadline for US federal agencies: Oct 30, 2025.
- A ready-made attack module is public (Metasploit, Nuclei); exploiting it takes no special expertise.
- Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 88.5% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 99.7% of all records.
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it. No account or password is required. No user action is required. No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
- According to CISA the attack is automatable: targets can be found by mass scanning.
- Fixed version: grafana (Alpine:v3.15) 8.2.7-r0; grafana (Alpine:v3.16) 8.3.1-r0; github.com/grafana/grafana (Go) 8.0.7, 8.1.8, 8.2.7.
Patch today or shut off access. Upgrade to grafana (Alpine:v3.15) 8.2.7-r0; grafana (Alpine:v3.16) 8.3.1-r0; github.com/grafana/grafana (Go) 8.0.7, 8.1.8, 8.2.7 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 · CISA KEV · FIRST EPSS
Grafana is an open-source platform for monitoring and observability. Grafana versions 8.0.0-beta1 through 8.3.0 (except for patched versions) iss vulnerable to directory traversal, allowing access to local files. The vulnerable URL path is: `<grafana_host_url>/public/plugins//`, where is the plugin ID for any installed plugin. At no time has Grafana Cloud been vulnerable. Users are advised to upgrade to patched versions 8.0.7, 8.1.8, 8.2.7, or 8.3.1. The GitHub Security Advisory contains more information about vulnerable URL paths, mitigation, and the disclosure timeline.
- Published
- Dec 7, 2021
- Updated
- Jun 17, 2026
- EPSS
- 88.5% · 99th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-22
Report tools
Action score
87
Now
Patch today or shut off access.
- CVSS
- 30 / 40 · 7.5 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 30 / 30 · Listed
- EPSS
- 27 / 30 · 88.5%
CISA SSVC decision
- Exploitation
- active
- Automatable
- yes
- Technical impact
- partial
Vulnrichment: CISA's decision-tree inputs.
CNA vs NVD score
- NVD
- —
- CNA · GitHub_M
- 7.5
- NVD has not scored this yet; the score shown is the CNA’s.
The score given by the assigning authority versus NVD’s independent score. A gap means the severity is contested.
Actively exploited in the wild
CISA added this to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Oct 9, 2025. That signals real attacks, not theory.
Remediation deadline for US federal agencies: Oct 30, 2025.
Get told when this record changes
- In CISA KEV: exploitation in the wild confirmed
- Weaponized exploit exists
- A fix has been released
If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.
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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.
We use this product, ask for helpAffected 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.
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| grafana | grafana | cpe:2.3:a:grafana:grafana |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- grafana grafana8.0.1 and later · before 8.0.7
- grafana grafana8.1.0 and later · before 8.1.8
- grafana grafana8.2.0 and later · before 8.2.7
- grafana grafana8.0.0
- grafana grafana8.3.0
Versions reported by the vendor
Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (GitHub_M). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.
grafana grafana
- >= 8.0.0, < 8.0.7, >= 8.1.0, < 8.1.8, >= 8.2.0, < 8.2.7, = 8.3.0affected
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine:v3.15 | grafana | from 8.0.1 · before 8.2.7-r0 | 8.2.7-r0 |
| Alpine:v3.16 | grafana | from 8.0.1 · before 8.3.1-r0 | 8.3.1-r0 |
| Go | github.com/grafana/grafana | from 8.0.0-beta1 · before 8.0.7 | 8.0.7 |
| Go | github.com/grafana/grafana | from 8.1.0 · before 8.1.8 | 8.1.8 |
| Go | github.com/grafana/grafana | from 8.2.0 · before 8.2.7 | 8.2.7 |
| Go | github.com/grafana/grafana | from 8.3.0 · before 8.3.1 | 8.3.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.3 | dracut-saltboot | before 0.1.1665997480.587fa10-150000.1.41.1 | 0.1.1665997480.587fa10-150000.1.41.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.3 | golang-github-boynux-squid_exporter | before 1.6-150000.1.9.1 | 1.6-150000.1.9.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.3 | golang-github-prometheus-promu | before 0.13.0-150000.3.9.1 | 0.13.0-150000.3.9.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.3 | grafana | before 8.5.13-150200.3.29.5 | 8.5.13-150200.3.29.5 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.3 | grafana | before 8.3.5-150200.3.21.1 | 8.3.5-150200.3.21.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.3 | prometheus-postgres_exporter | before 0.10.0-150000.1.3.1 | 0.10.0-150000.1.3.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.3 | rhnlib | before 4.2.6-150000.3.34.1 | 4.2.6-150000.3.34.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.3 | spacecmd | before 4.3.16-150000.3.89.1 | 4.3.16-150000.3.89.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.3 | spacecmd | before 4.2.16-150000.3.77.1 | 4.2.16-150000.3.77.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.4 | prometheus-blackbox_exporter | before 0.19.0-150000.1.14.3 | 0.19.0-150000.1.14.3 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.4 | wire | before 0.5.0-150000.1.9.3 | 0.5.0-150000.1.9.3 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.5 | golang-github-lusitaniae-apache_exporter | before 1.0.0-150000.1.20.1 | 1.0.0-150000.1.20.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.5 | prometheus-postgres_exporter | before 0.10.1-150000.1.17.1 | 0.10.1-150000.1.17.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.5 | spacecmd | before 4.3.26-150000.3.113.1 | 4.3.26-150000.3.113.1 |
| openSUSE:Tumbleweed | grafana | before 8.3.4-1.1 | 8.3.4-1.1 |
| SUSE:Enterprise Storage 6 | grafana | before 8.5.13-150100.3.12.1 | 8.5.13-150100.3.12.1 |
| SUSE:HPE Helion OpenStack 8 | golang-github-prometheus-node_exporter | before 1.3.0-1.15.3 | 1.3.0-1.15.3 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Package Hub 15 SP4 | grafana | before 8.5.13-150200.3.29.5 | 8.5.13-150200.3.29.5 |
+96
Same product
grafana: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2021-39226Snapshot authentication bypass in grafanaKEV89Now
- CVE-2024-9264Grafana SQL Expressions allow for remote code execution66This week
- CVE-2020-13379The avatar feature in Grafana 3.0.1 through 7.0.1 has an SSRF Incorrect Access Control issue.62This week
Published before and after this one in the same product
- ← EarlierCVE-2021-41174Nov 3, 2021 · XSS vulnerability allowing arbitrary JavaScript execution50Plan
- ← EarlierCVE-2021-41244Nov 15, 2021 · Cross organization admin control in Grafana29Monitor
- Later →CVE-2021-43813Dec 10, 2021 · Directory Traversal in Grafana34Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| alpine:grafana | 8.2.7-r0 · Alpine:v3.15 | Package registry (OSV) |
| Go:github.com/grafana/grafana | 8.0.7 | Package registry (OSV) |
| Go:github.com/grafana/grafana | 8.1.8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| Go:github.com/grafana/grafana | 8.2.7 | Package registry (OSV) |
| Go:github.com/grafana/grafana | 8.3.1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:dracut-saltboot | 0.1.1665997480.587fa10-150000.1.41.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.3 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:golang-github-boynux-squid_exporter | 1.6-150000.1.9.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.3 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:golang-github-lusitaniae-apache_exporter | 1.0.0-150000.1.20.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.5 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:golang-github-prometheus-promu | 0.13.0-150000.3.9.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.3 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:grafana | 8.3.5-150200.3.21.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.3 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:prometheus-blackbox_exporter | 0.19.0-150000.1.14.3 · openSUSE:Leap 15.4 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:prometheus-postgres_exporter | 0.10.0-150000.1.3.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.3 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:rhnlib | 4.2.6-150000.3.34.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.3 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:spacecmd | 4.2.16-150000.3.77.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.3 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:wire | 0.5.0-150000.1.9.3 · openSUSE:Leap 15.4 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:grafana | 8.3.5-150000.1.30.1 · SUSE:Manager Client Tools 15 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:mgr-cfg | 4.2.8-150000.1.24.1 · SUSE:Manager Client Tools 15 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:mgr-osad | 4.2.8-150000.1.36.1 · SUSE:Manager Client Tools 15 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:mgr-push | 4.2.5-150000.1.18.2 · SUSE:Manager Client Tools 15 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:mgr-virtualization | 4.2.4-150000.1.26.1 · SUSE:Manager Client Tools 15 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:prometheus-postgres_exporter | 0.10.0-150000.1.3.1 · SUSE:Manager Client Tools 15 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:rhnlib | 4.2.6-150000.3.34.1 · SUSE:Manager Client Tools 15 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:spacecmd | 4.2.16-150000.3.77.1 · SUSE:Manager Client Tools 15 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:spacewalk-client-tools | 4.2.18-150000.3.59.1 · SUSE:Manager Client Tools 15 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:spacewalk-koan | 4.2.6-150000.3.27.1 · SUSE:Manager Client Tools 15 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:spacewalk-oscap | 4.2.4-150000.3.18.1 · SUSE:Manager Client Tools 15 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:suseRegisterInfo | 4.2.6-150000.3.21.1 · SUSE:Manager Client Tools 15 | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
Weaponized
A ready exploit tool or active in-the-wild use is known for this vulnerability. This should be your top priority.
Evidence
- Metasploit module ×1
- Exploit-DB entry ×1
- Nuclei detection template ×1
- Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub ×50
Noroxi does not host or link to exploit code. Metasploit module names and Nuclei template ids are shown (names, not code); Exploit-DB entries and PoC repositories are given as counts only.
| Source | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Exploit-DB entry | webapps | 2021-12-09 |
| Metasploit module | auxiliary/scanner/http/grafana_plugin_traversalGrafana Plugin Path Traversalauxiliary | 2021-12-02 |
| Nuclei detection template | Nuclei template CVE-2021-43798 | — |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:43 | 2021-12-06 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:27 | 2021-12-07 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:370 | 2021-12-07 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:14 | 2021-12-07 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:24 | 2021-12-07 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:12 | 2021-12-07 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:270 | 2021-12-07 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:6 | 2021-12-07 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:17 | 2021-12-08 |
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.
- Metasploit-6 d
- First PoC-2 d
- Published
- CISA KEV+1401 d
- TodayNov 7, 2026+1796 d
No history yet (it accumulates with the daily EPSS job).
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 researchersFinders, 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
- Grafana Labs - Vulnerability Disclosure Program (VDP)Intigriti · disclosure only (VDP) · grafana/grafana
- Grafana Labs - Vulnerability Disclosure Program (VDP)Intigriti · disclosure only (VDP)
The product’s vendor appears in a public program. Matched by name; verify the scope text in the program.
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
- No account or password is required.
- No user action is required.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- high · data can be read
- Integrity
- none
- Availability
- none
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- High
- Integrity impact
- None
- Availability impact
- None
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-22 · Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
nvd-secondary
Root cause
A user-supplied file name is joined with the allowed directory, but the result is never checked to confirm it is still inside that directory.
The bug in code
The whole CWE-22 classA representative example of this vulnerability class. Not the vendor's source code; it shows the faulty pattern and its fix.
Vulnerable
const file = path.join(ROOT, req.query.name);
res.sendFile(file);Fixed
const file = path.resolve(ROOT, req.query.name);
if (!file.startsWith(ROOT + path.sep)) {
return res.sendStatus(400);
}
res.sendFile(file);Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
- Path TraversalCAPEC-126likelihood: High · Very High
- Using Slashes and URL Encoding Combined to Bypass Validation LogicCAPEC-64likelihood: High · High
- Manipulating Web Input to File System CallsCAPEC-76likelihood: High · Very High
- Using Escaped Slashes in Alternate EncodingCAPEC-78likelihood: High · High
- Using Slashes in Alternate EncodingCAPEC-79likelihood: High · High
ATT&CK techniques
—
Change log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
Show all references (7 more)Show less
- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/12/09/2
- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/12/10/4
- github.com/grafana/grafana/commit/c798c0e958d15d9cc7f27c72113d572fa58545ce
- github.com/grafana/grafana/security/advisories/GHSA-8pjx-jj86-j47p
- grafana.com/blog/2021/12/08/an-update-on-0day-cve-2021-43798-grafana-directory-traversal/
- security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20211229-0004/
- www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-43798
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.