HOME VULNERABILITIESCVE-2021-33990

CRITICALPOC

CVE-2021-33990

CWE-281Published: April 16, 2023· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

9.8

CVSS v3.1

Official Description

Liferay Portal 6.2.5 allows Command=FileUpload&Type=File&CurrentFolder=/ requests when frmfolders.html exists. NOTE: The vendor disputes this issue because the exploit reference link only shows frmfolders.html is accessible and does not demonstrate how an unauthorized user can upload a file.

Technical Analysis

CVE-2021-33990 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.

A proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit exists for CVE-2021-33990. While not yet confirmed in active campaigns, the availability of PoC code increases exploitation risk substantially.

CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown

Exploitability

Attack VectorNetwork

Attack ComplexityLow

Privileges Req.None

User InteractionNone

ScopeUnchanged

Impact

ConfidentialityHigh

IntegrityHigh

AvailabilityHigh

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected Vendors & Products

liferay1 product(s)

liferay portal

Source: NVD CPE · 1 total CPE entries

Exploit & PoC Resources

POC AVAILABLEProof-of-concept code exists

Offensive Security exploit database

GitHub PoC Search

Community PoC repositories

Rapid7 / Metasploit

Metasploit module search

Security advisories & exploits

Official NIST entry

CVE Program entry

External links open in a new tab. Always verify in a controlled environment before use.

Official Patches & Advisories

ADVISORYhttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/171701/Liferay-Portal-6.2.5-Insecure-Permissions.html

ADVISORYhttps://github.com/fu2x2000/Liferay_exploit_Poc

ADVISORYhttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/171701/Liferay-Portal-6.2.5-Insecure-Permissions.html

ADVISORYhttps://github.com/fu2x2000/Liferay_exploit_Poc

All References (4)

→

http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/171701/Liferay-Portal-6.2.5-Insecure-Permissions.htmlExploit · Third Party Advisory · VDB Entry

→

https://github.com/fu2x2000/Liferay_exploit_PocExploit · Third Party Advisory

→

http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/171701/Liferay-Portal-6.2.5-Insecure-Permissions.htmlExploit · Third Party Advisory · VDB Entry

→

https://github.com/fu2x2000/Liferay_exploit_PocExploit · Third Party Advisory

Quick Facts

CVE IDCVE-2021-33990

CVSS Score9.8 / 10

SeverityCRITICAL

WeaknessCWE-281

CISA KEVNo

ExploitPOC

Affected1 vendor(s)

PublishedApr 16, 2023

Related CVEs (CWE-281)

Recommended Actions

→Apply vendor patches immediately
→Monitor CVE-2021-33990 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.COM. CVE data is provided under the NVD usage policy.

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