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TI-2021-19664 Aliases CVE-2021-43858

User privilege escalation in MinIO

Priority MEDIUM 64CWE-269Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Privilege escalation, Security bypass
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
Partial Red Hat: 1 without a fix

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-269 and CWE-863.

Summary

MinIO is a Kubernetes native application for cloud storage. Prior to version `RELEASE.2021-12-27T07-23-18Z`, a malicious client can hand-craft an HTTP API call that allows for updating policy for a user and gaining higher privileges. The patch in version `RELEASE.2021-12-27T07-23-18Z` changes the accepted request body type and removes the ability to apply policy changes through this API. There is a workaround for this vulnerability: Changing passwords can be disabled by adding an explicit `Deny` rule to disable the API for users.

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.35462 98th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Red Hat: 2 advisoriesRed Hat: 1 without a fix

SSVC decision points

Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
MinIOminio< RELEASE.2021-12-27T07-23-18Z—No fix listedCNA
  • minio VendorMinIO Affected < RELEASE.2021-12-27T07-23-18Z Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:minio:minio:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 2021-12-27t07-23-18zVulnerableMinIO
  • cpe:2.3:a:minio:minio:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 2021-12-27t07-23-18z Vulnerable ·MinIO

Remediation

Red Hat 2 advisories

  • RHSA-2022:4956 Released 2022-06-09 · Red Hat rating Important
    Red Hat Advanced Cluster Management 2.5 security updates, images, and bug fixes
    • Red Hat Advanced Cluster Management for Kubernetes 2.5 for RHEL 8 rhacm2/acm-cluster-proxy-rhel8, rhacm2/acm-governance-policy-addon-controller-rhel8, rhacm2/acm-grafana-rhel8 +47
  • RHSA-2022:0735 Released 2022-03-03 · Red Hat rating Important
    Red Hat Advanced Cluster Management 2.4.2 security updates and bug fixes
    • Red Hat Advanced Cluster Management for Kubernetes 2.4 for RHEL 8 rhacm2/acm-grafana-rhel8, rhacm2/acm-must-gather-rhel8, rhacm2/acm-operator-bundle +47

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Advanced Cluster Management for Kubernetes 2AffectedNo fix yet
Not affected: 1 product
  • Red Hat Advanced Cluster Management for Kubernetes 2

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-43858

References

  • TI-2023-12978 MinIO is vulnerable to privilege escalation on Linux/MacOS KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2023-12976 Minio Information Disclosure in Cluster Deployment KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
  • TI-2023-11082 Allowed DELETE on resources on object locked buckets under Governance mode in Minio CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2024-16264 MinIO unsafe default: Access keys inherit `admin` of root user, allowing privilege escalation CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2022-08654 Improper Privilege Management in MinIO CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2022-13073 Possible DDOS by establishing keep-alive connections with anonymous HTTP clients in MinIO CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
See all 22 →

Sources