CVE-2021-21284

privilege escalation in Moby

MEDIUM
6.8
CVSS Score
Published: February 2, 2021 at 05:55 PM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 03:35 AM UTC
4 products affected across 4 vendorsDebian LinuxE Series Santricity OS ControllerDocker

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Severity
MEDIUM6.8
Exploit prediction
EPSS 1%

Description

In Docker before versions 9.03.15, 20.10.3 there is a vulnerability involving the --userns-remap option in which access to remapped root allows privilege escalation to real root. When using "--userns-remap", if the root user in the remapped namespace has access to the host filesystem they can modify files under "/var/lib/docker/<remapping>" that cause writing files with extended privileges. Versions 20.10.3 and 19.03.15 contain patches that prevent privilege escalation from remapped user.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

v < 19.03.1520.0.0 ≤ v < 20.10.3
Affected range stops below 19.03.15, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 20.10.3, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
v < 19.03.15v < 20.10.3
Affected range stops below 19.03.15, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 20.10.3, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

References (8)

x_refsource_MISCRelease NotesVendor Advisory
https://docs.docker.com/engine/release-notes/#20103
x_refsource_MISCRelease NotesThird Party Advisory
https://github.com/moby/moby/releases/tag/v19.03.15
x_refsource_MISCRelease NotesThird Party Advisory
https://github.com/moby/moby/releases/tag/v20.10.3
Vendor Advisoryx_refsource_GENTOOPatchThird Party Advisory
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202107-23
Vendor Advisoryx_refsource_DEBIANThird Party Advisory
https://www.debian.org/security/2021/dsa-4865

CVSS

6.8MEDIUMGitHub_M
Attack Vector
ADJACENT_NETWORK
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
CHANGED
Confidentiality
NONE
Integrity
HIGH
Availability
NONE
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED
CWE
CWE-22

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