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TI-2021-19605 Aliases CVE-2021-43799

RabbitMQ exposes ports with weak default secrets in Zulip Server

Priority MEDIUM 56CWE-338Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
—
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA.

Summary

Zulip is an open-source team collaboration tool. Zulip Server installs RabbitMQ for internal message passing. In versions of Zulip Server prior to 4.9, the initial installation (until first reboot, or restart of RabbitMQ) does not successfully limit the default ports which RabbitMQ opens; this includes port 25672, the RabbitMQ distribution port, which is used as a management port. RabbitMQ's default "cookie" which protects this port is generated using a weak PRNG, which limits the entropy of the password to at most 36 bits; in practicality, the seed for the randomizer is biased, resulting in approximately 20 bits of entropy. If other firewalls (at the OS or network level) do not protect port 25672, a remote attacker can brute-force the 20 bits of entropy in the "cookie" and leverage it for arbitrary execution of code as the rabbitmq user. They can also read all data which is sent through RabbitMQ, which includes all message traffic sent by users. Version 4.9 contains a patch for this vulnerability. As a workaround, ensure that firewalls prevent access to ports 5672 and 25672 from outside the Zulip server.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.05386 92nd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed zulip (zulip): 4.9

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
Yes
Technical impact
Partial

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
zulipzulipbefore 4.94.9Patch availableCNA
  • zulip Vendorzulip Affected before 4.9 Fixed in 4.9 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:zulip:zulip:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 4.9Vulnerablezulip
  • cpe:2.3:a:zulip:zulip:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 4.9 Vulnerable ·zulip

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA zulip (zulip) Fixed in 4.9

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-43799

References

  • TI-2026-20810 Zulip: Anonymous File Access After Disabling Spectator Access CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.3
  • TI-2026-21062 Zulip: Path Traversal in Import CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.1
  • TI-2023-15953 Users who can send invitations can erroneously add users to streams during invitation in Zulip CVSS 3.1LOW 3.1
  • TI-2022-13210 Zulip Server insufficient authorization for changing bot roles CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2021-02864 Improper Access Control in zulip/zulip CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2022-16387 Crafted link in Zulip message can cause disclosure of credentials CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.0
See all 19 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences