How severe is CVE-2021-3401?

CVE-2021-3401 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2021-3401 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 10% (95th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2021-3401?

CVE-2021-3401 affects Bitcoin. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2021-3401?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2021-3401 published?

CVE-2021-3401 was published on 2021-02-04 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2021-3401

CVE-2021-3401 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Bitcoin with a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score of 10% places it in the 95th percentile, indicating an elevated likelihood of exploitation. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-88.

Key facts

Severity: Critical (CVSS 3.x base score 9.8)
CVSS v2: 7.5
EPSS exploit prediction: 10% (95th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-88
Affected product: Bitcoin
Published: 2021-02-04
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Bitcoin Core before 0.19.0 might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code when another application unsafely passes the -platformpluginpath argument to the bitcoin-qt program, as demonstrated by an x-scheme-handler/bitcoin handler for a .desktop file or a web browser. NOTE: the discoverer states "I believe that this vulnerability cannot actually be exploited."

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2021-3401?: Bitcoin Core before 0.19.0 might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code when another application unsafely passes the -platformpluginpath argument to the bitcoin-qt program, as demonstrated by an x-scheme-handler/bitcoin handler for a .desktop file or a web browser. NOTE: the discoverer states "I believe that this vulnerability cannot actually be exploited."
How severe is CVE-2021-3401?: CVE-2021-3401 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2021-3401 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 10% (95th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2021-3401?: CVE-2021-3401 affects Bitcoin. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2021-3401?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2021-3401 published?: CVE-2021-3401 was published on 2021-02-04 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:a:bitcoin:bitcoin:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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