Is CVE-2021-32824 actively exploited?

No active exploitation of CVE-2021-32824 has been confirmed so far. Continue monitoring, as exploit status can change.

Can CVE-2021-32824 be exploited remotely?

Yes. CVE-2021-32824 is exploitable remotely over the network (CVSS attack vector: Network).

What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-32824?

CVE-2021-32824 has a CVSS score of 9.8 (CRITICAL).

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CRITICAL

CVE-2021-32824

CWE-502Published: January 3, 2023· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

9.8

CVSS v3.1

Official Description

Apache Dubbo is a java based, open source RPC framework. Versions prior to 2.6.10 and 2.7.10 are vulnerable to pre-auth remote code execution via arbitrary bean manipulation in the Telnet handler. The Dubbo main service port can be used to access a Telnet Handler which offers some basic methods to collect information about the providers and methods exposed by the service and it can even allow to shutdown the service. This endpoint is unprotected. Additionally, a provider method can be invoked using the `invoke` handler. This handler uses a safe version of FastJson to process the call arguments. However, the resulting list is later processed with `PojoUtils.realize` which can be used to instantiate arbitrary classes and invoke its setters. Even though FastJson is properly protected with a default blocklist, `PojoUtils.realize` is not, and an attacker can leverage that to achieve remote code execution. Versions 2.6.10 and 2.7.10 contain fixes for this issue.

NVD Source

Risk Analysis

Apache Dubbo contains a critical vulnerability allowing unauthenticated remote code execution via the Telnet handler. The flaw arises from improper handling of arguments that can be leveraged to instantiate arbitrary classes, posing a severe risk to system integrity. The CVSS score of 9.8 reflects the high impact and ease of remote exploitation.

There is no known public exploit for this vulnerability, and it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog. It is remotely exploitable due to the network-accessible nature of the service.

Recommended Action

Upgrade Apache Dubbo to version 2.6.10, 2.7.10, or later. Ensure that the Dubbo service port is not exposed to untrusted networks.

Generated by the CTIWATCH analysis pipeline from this CVE's metadata (CVSS, EPSS, KEV status, exploit intelligence). Verify against vendor advisories before acting.

Technical Analysis

CVE-2021-32824 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 complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 9.8.

From a weakness classification perspective (CWE-502): Insecure deserialization vulnerabilities allow attackers to inject malicious objects during deserialization, potentially enabling remote code execution.