Is CVE-2021-3401 actively exploited?

No active exploitation of CVE-2021-3401 has been confirmed so far. Continue monitoring, as exploit status can change.

Can CVE-2021-3401 be exploited remotely?

Yes. CVE-2021-3401 is exploitable remotely over the network (CVSS attack vector: Network).

What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-3401?

CVE-2021-3401 has a CVSS score of 9.8 (CRITICAL).

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CRITICAL

CVE-2021-3401

CWE-88Published: February 4, 2021· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

9.8

CVSS v3.1

Official Description

Bitcoin Core before 0.19.0 might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code when another application unsafely passes the -platformpluginpath argument to the bitcoin-qt program, as demonstrated by an x-scheme-handler/bitcoin handler for a .desktop file or a web browser. NOTE: the discoverer states "I believe that this vulnerability cannot actually be exploited."

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2021-3401 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.