HOMEVULNERABILITIESCVE-2021-23841
MEDIUM

CVE-2021-23841

CWE-476Published: February 16, 2021· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

5.9
CVSS v3.1

Official Description

The OpenSSL public API function X509_issuer_and_serial_hash() attempts to create a unique hash value based on the issuer and serial number data contained within an X509 certificate. However it fails to correctly handle any errors that may occur while parsing the issuer field (which might occur if the issuer field is maliciously constructed). This may subsequently result in a NULL pointer deref and a crash leading to a potential denial of service attack. The function X509_issuer_and_serial_hash() is never directly called by OpenSSL itself so applications are only vulnerable if they use this function directly and they use it on certificates that may have been obtained from untrusted sources. OpenSSL versions 1.1.1i and below are affected by this issue. Users of these versions should upgrade to OpenSSL 1.1.1j. OpenSSL versions 1.0.2x and below are affected by this issue. However OpenSSL 1.0.2 is out of support and no longer receiving public updates. Premium support customers of OpenSSL 1.0.2 should upgrade to 1.0.2y. Other users should upgrade to 1.1.1j. Fixed in OpenSSL 1.1.1j (Affected 1.1.1-1.1.1i). Fixed in OpenSSL 1.0.2y (Affected 1.0.2-1.0.2x).

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2021-23841 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.

The vulnerability requires no privileges and no user interaction, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns and worm-like propagation.

A successful exploit results in availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 5.9.

CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown

Exploitability
Attack VectorNetwork
Attack ComplexityHigh
Privileges Req.None
User InteractionNone
ScopeUnchanged
Impact
ConfidentialityNone
IntegrityNone
AvailabilityHigh
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Affected Vendors & Products

Apple4 product(s)
safariipadosiphone osmacos
Debian1 product(s)
debian linux
netapp3 product(s)
oncommand insightoncommand workflow automationsnapcenter
OpenSSL1 product(s)
openssl
Oracle11 product(s)
business intelligencecommunications cloud native core policyenterprise manager for storage managemententerprise manager ops centeressbasegraalvmjd edwards world securitymysql enterprise monitormysql serverpeoplesoft enterprise peopletoolszfs storage appliance kit
siemens1 product(s)
sinec ins
tenable2 product(s)
nessus network monitortenable.sc
Source: NVD CPE · 35 total CPE entries

Exploit & PoC Resources

NO KNOWN EXPLOITNo public exploit confirmed at this time
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Official Patches & Advisories

All References (44)

Quick Facts

CVE IDCVE-2021-23841
CVSS Score5.9 / 10
SeverityMEDIUM
WeaknessCWE-476
CISA KEVNo
Affected7 vendor(s)
PublishedFeb 16, 2021

Related CVEs (CWE-476)

Recommended Actions

  • Apply vendor patches immediately
  • Monitor CVE-2021-23841 in threat intel feeds
  • Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts
Data sourced from NVD (NIST), CISA KEV, and EPSS (FIRST). Analysis generated by CTIWatch. CVE data is provided under the NVD usage policy.