How severe is CVE-2021-41617?

CVE-2021-41617 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.0, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with high attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2021-41617 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (82nd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2021-41617?

CVE-2021-41617 primarily affects Openbsd Openssh. In total, 16 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2021-41617?

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-2021-41617 published?

CVE-2021-41617 was published on 2021-09-26 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2021-41617

CVE-2021-41617 is a high-severity vulnerability in Openbsd Openssh with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.0. 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 7.0)
CVSS v2: 4.4
EPSS exploit prediction: 2% (82nd percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Affected product: Openbsd Openssh
Published: 2021-09-26
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

sshd in OpenSSH 6.2 through 8.x before 8.8, when certain non-default configurations are used, allows privilege escalation because supplemental groups are not initialized as expected. Helper programs for AuthorizedKeysCommand and AuthorizedPrincipalsCommand may run with privileges associated with group memberships of the sshd process, if the configuration specifies running the command as a different user.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2021-41617?: sshd in OpenSSH 6.2 through 8.x before 8.8, when certain non-default configurations are used, allows privilege escalation because supplemental groups are not initialized as expected. Helper programs for AuthorizedKeysCommand and AuthorizedPrincipalsCommand may run with privileges associated with group memberships of the sshd process, if the configuration specifies running the command as a different user.
How severe is CVE-2021-41617?: CVE-2021-41617 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.0, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with high attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2021-41617 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (82nd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2021-41617?: CVE-2021-41617 primarily affects Openbsd Openssh. In total, 16 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2021-41617?: 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-2021-41617 published?: CVE-2021-41617 was published on 2021-09-26 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (16)

cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:33:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:34:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:35:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:netapp:active_iq_unified_manager:-:*:*:*:*:vmware_vsphere:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:netapp:clustered_data_ontap:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:netapp:hci_management_node:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:netapp:ontap_select_deploy_administration_utility:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:netapp:solidfire:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netapp:aff_a250_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netapp:aff_500f_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:http_server:12.2.1.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:http_server:12.2.1.3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:http_server:12.2.1.4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:zfs_storage_appliance_kit:8.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:starwindsoftware:starwind_virtual_san:v8r13:14398:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Openbsd Openssh

CVE-2003-0786 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The SSH1 PAM challenge response authentication in OpenSSH 3.7.1 and 3.7.1p1, when Privilege Separation is disabled,…
CVE-2003-0693 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): A "buffer management error" in buffer_append_space of buffer.c for OpenSSH before 3.7 may allow remote attackers to…
CVE-2002-0640 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Buffer overflow in sshd in OpenSSH 2.3.1 through 3.3 may allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a large…
CVE-2001-0144 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): CORE SDI SSH1 CRC-32 compensation attack detector allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands on an SSH…
CVE-2000-0999 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Format string vulnerabilities in OpenBSD ssh program (and possibly other BSD-based operating systems) allow attackers…
CVE-2000-0525 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): OpenSSH does not properly drop privileges when the UseLogin option is enabled, which allows local users to execute…

All CVEs affecting Openbsd Openssh →

Threat intelligence

Threat-intel indicators referencing this CVE:

152.32.208.73 (ipv4-addr)
152.32.217.163 (ipv4-addr)
152.32.204.21 (ipv4-addr)
152.32.145.49 (ipv4-addr)
104.218.164.192 (ipv4-addr)
165.154.162.193 (ipv4-addr)
165.154.11.210 (ipv4-addr)
152.32.207.42 (ipv4-addr)