Is CVE-2021-38459 actively exploited?

No active exploitation of CVE-2021-38459 has been confirmed so far. Continue monitoring, as exploit status can change.

Can CVE-2021-38459 be exploited remotely?

Yes. CVE-2021-38459 is exploitable remotely over the network (CVSS attack vector: Network).

What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-38459?

CVE-2021-38459 has a CVSS score of 9.8 (CRITICAL).

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CRITICAL

CVE-2021-38459

CWE-294Published: October 22, 2021· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

9.8

CVSS v3.1

Official Description

The data of a network capture of the initial handshake phase can be used to authenticate at a SYSDBA level. If a specific .exe is not restarted often, it is possible to access the needed handshake packets between admin/client connections. Using the SYSDBA permission, an attacker can change user passwords or delete the database.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2021-38459 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.