Is CVE-2021-21553 actively exploited?

No active exploitation of CVE-2021-21553 has been confirmed so far. Continue monitoring, as exploit status can change.

Can CVE-2021-21553 be exploited remotely?

No. CVE-2021-21553 requires local access to exploit.

What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-21553?

CVE-2021-21553 has a CVSS score of 8.8 (HIGH).

HOME VULNERABILITIESCVE-2021-21553

HIGH

CVE-2021-21553

CWE-286Published: August 3, 2021· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

8.8

CVSS v3.1

Official Description

Dell PowerScale OneFS versions 8.1.0-9.1.0 contain an Incorrect User Management vulnerability.under some specific conditions, this can allow the CompAdmin user to elevate privileges and break out of Compliance mode. This is a critical vulnerability and Dell recommends upgrading at the earliest.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2021-21553 requires local access, meaning attackers must already have a foothold on the target system.

Exploitation requires low privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.

A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 8.8.

The vulnerability has a "Changed" scope, meaning successful exploitation can impact components beyond the vulnerable component itself — such as the host operating system or adjacent services.