How severe is CVE-2021-38266?

CVE-2021-38266 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.5, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.

Is CVE-2021-38266 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (80th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2021-38266?

CVE-2021-38266 primarily affects Liferay Liferay Portal. In total, 113 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2021-38266?

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

When was CVE-2021-38266 published?

CVE-2021-38266 was published on 2022-03-02 and last updated on 2026-07-05.

CVE-2021-38266

CVE-2021-38266 is a high-severity vulnerability in Liferay Liferay Portal with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.5)
CVSS v2: 5.0
EPSS exploit prediction: 2% (80th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Affected product: Liferay Liferay Portal
Published: 2022-03-02
Last modified: 2026-07-05

Description

The Portal Security module in Liferay Portal 7.2.1 and earlier, and Liferay DXP 7.0 before fix pack 90, 7.1 before fix pack 17 and 7.2 before fix pack 5 does not correctly import users from LDAP, which allows remote attackers to prevent a legitimate user from authenticating by attempting to sign in as a user that exist in LDAP.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2021-38266?: The Portal Security module in Liferay Portal 7.2.1 and earlier, and Liferay DXP 7.0 before fix pack 90, 7.1 before fix pack 17 and 7.2 before fix pack 5 does not correctly import users from LDAP, which allows remote attackers to prevent a legitimate user from authenticating by attempting to sign in as a user that exist in LDAP.
How severe is CVE-2021-38266?: CVE-2021-38266 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.5, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.
Is CVE-2021-38266 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (80th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2021-38266?: CVE-2021-38266 primarily affects Liferay Liferay Portal. In total, 113 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2021-38266?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2021-38266 published?: CVE-2021-38266 was published on 2022-03-02 and last updated on 2026-07-05.

References

Affected products (113)

cpe:2.3:a:liferay:liferay_portal:*:*:*:*:community:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_10:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_11:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_12:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_13:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_14:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_15:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_16:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_17:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_18:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_19:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_20:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_21:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_22:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_23:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_24:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_25:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_26:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_27:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_28:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_29:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_30:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_31:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_32:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_33:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_34:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_35:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_36:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_37:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_38:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_39:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_4:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_40:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_41:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_42:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:liferay:digital_experience_platform:7.0:fix_pack_43:*:*:*:*:*:*

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