🛡️ CVE-2021-3978 on Debian — cfrpki

⚪ Unknown ✅ No Known Exploit OSV
N/A
CVSS Score
0 Low4 Medium7 High9 Critical10

Description

When copying files with rsync, octorpki uses the "-a" flag 0, which forces rsync to copy binaries with the suid bit set as root. Since the provided service definition defaults to root ( https://github.com/cloudflare/cfrpki/blob/master/package/octorpki.service ) this could allow for a vector, when combined with another vulnerability that causes octorpki to process a malicious TAL file, for a local privilege escalation.

Distribution advisory

This page covers CVE-2021-3978 as tracked by Debian, for the package cfrpki. The fix is available in version 1.4.2-1; earlier versions remain affected.

How this vulnerability can be exploited

This issue can be reached with local access to the system, attack complexity is low, an attacker needs low-level privileges on the target. No user interaction is required. The scope is unchanged, so the impact stays within the vulnerable component. Rated impact: confidentiality none, integrity high, availability none.

Weakness class

DEBIAN-CVE-2021-3978 is classified as CWE-269: Improper Privilege Management. Privileges are assigned, dropped or restored incorrectly, leaving an actor with more access than intended.

Affected software

DEBIAN-CVE-2021-3978 is recorded against 1 package.

  • cfrpki (fixed in 1.4.2-1)

Timeline and source

Published on 29 January 2025 and last revised on 4 August 2026. No public exploit is currently recorded for this entry. Record sourced from OSV.

References

security-tracker.debian.org (Advisory)

CVE-2021-3978 on other distributions

Each distribution ships its own build and its own fixed version. Pick the one you run:

Details

Severity Unknown
CVSS Score N/A
CVSS Vector CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
CWE N/A
Public Exploit ✅ No
Source OSV
Published 2025-01-29
Updated 2026-08-12
Modified 2026-08-04
Fix URL N/A

Affected Packages

Software From version Fixed in
cfrpki — 1.4.2-1

Similar Threats

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