Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HCVSS and EPSS are reproduced from their sources (NVD, FIRST EPSS). Risk Priority is our own derived reading, not an NVD score.
Summary
CVE-2021-22900 is a high-severity Code Injection (CWE-94) vulnerability in Ivanti Connect Secure. Its CVSS base score is 7.2 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Junk Data (T1001.001); ranked in the top 3% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; CISA has added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary
Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.
CVE-2021-22900 is an unrestricted file upload vulnerability in Pulse Connect Secure versions prior to 9.1R11.4. It resides in the administrator web interface and permits an authenticated administrator to upload a maliciously crafted archive that results in arbitrary file writes on the appliance. The flaw is tracked under CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code) and CWE-669 (Incorrect Resource Transfer Between Spheres) and carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.2.
An attacker who already possesses valid administrator credentials can exploit the issue over the network by submitting the crafted archive through the management interface. Successful exploitation grants the ability to write arbitrary files, which can be leveraged to achieve full control over confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system.
The vendor advisory SA44784 states that the issue is resolved in Pulse Connect Secure 9.1R11.4 and later releases; administrators are advised to apply the update. The vulnerability is also listed in CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, confirming observed in-the-wild exploitation.
OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2021-10032
Vulnerability Data
A vulnerability allowed multiple unrestricted uploads in Pulse Connect Secure before 9.1R11.4 that could lead to an authenticated administrator to perform a file write via a maliciously crafted archive upload in the administrator web interface.
- CWE(s)
- KEV Date Added
- 03 November 2021
Related Threats
Threat-Actor AttributionAI
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Control response
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V1.3.1
Likely Mitigating Controls AI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Enforces proper authorization rules for any resource or data transfer between different spheres.
Accountability, documentation, and protection requirements ensure correct transfer of media resources between spheres.
Reduces incorrect transfers between spheres by establishing clear, separate domains for different sensitivities or functions.
Makes persistent code injection into loaded programs impossible when the executable image itself resides on hardware-protected read-only media.
Dynamically generated code can be produced and executed inside the isolated chamber, preventing host compromise from code-injection payloads.
It governs all resource transfers between spheres, preventing incorrect or unauthorized movement of data or capabilities across domain interfaces.
Validates inputs used in dynamic code generation to block injected directives.
Directly prevents execution of attacker-supplied code written into data memory regions.
Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
PR.PS-06's SDLC practices directly target injection flaws via secure coding and testing (mostly), yet as a single broad outcome it leaves many code-generation specifics unaddressed (partial).
PR.DS-10 protects runtime data confidentiality/integrity but has no bearing on neutralizing externally influenced input during code generation, so neither direction shows any preventive effect.
Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Hardening callouts derived
DISA STIG baselines are authored against specific weaknesses. Where this CVE cites a broad weakness class, the mapping is not asserted at that abstraction (owner ruling, 2026-09-25: grade only at Base and below), so no rule is shown here rather than a rule shown against the wrong grain.