Cyber Resilience

CVE-2021-34996

Commvault Commcell 11.22.22

High EPSS
Published
13 January 2022
Modified
21 November 2024
CVSS Score v3.1 8.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.82 99.6th percentile
Risk Priority 87 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2021-34996 is a high-severity Exposed Dangerous Method or Function (CWE-749) vulnerability in Commvault Commcell. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).

Operationally, ranked in the top 0.4% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Commvault CommCell 11.22.22. Although authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability, the existing authentication mechanism can be bypassed. The specific flaw exists within the Demo_ExecuteProcessOnGroup workflow. By…

more

creating a workflow, an attacker can specify an arbitrary command to be executed. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of SYSTEM. Was ZDI-CAN-13889.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

Likely ATT&CK TechniquesAI

Techniques this vulnerability likely enables, inferred from its description, weakness type, and attributed-actor tradecraft. Confidence is per-technique.

T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Accessconfidence: HIGH
The flaw allows remote code execution on a publicly reachable CommCell server after bypassing authentication.
T1059.003 Windows Command Shell Executionconfidence: HIGH
The Demo_ExecuteProcessOnGroup workflow lets an attacker supply and run an arbitrary OS command.
T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation Privilege Escalationconfidence: HIGH
Successful exploitation grants code execution with SYSTEM privileges, constituting privilege escalation.
inferred from description + CWE · MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v19.0

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2021-34995Same product: Commvault Commcell
CVE-2025-57790Same vendor: Commvault
CVE-2025-57791Same vendor: Commvault
CVE-2025-57788Same vendor: Commvault
CVE-2017-18044Same vendor: Commvault
CVE-2025-57789Same vendor: Commvault
CVE-2026-12060Shared CWE-749
CVE-2026-8108Shared CWE-749
CVE-2026-3483Shared CWE-749
CVE-2023-50422Shared CWE-749

Affected Assets

commvault
commcell
11.22.22

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)
  • 4 hardening rules · 2 OS baselines
Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V8.2.1

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.

addresses: CWE-749

Explicitly prohibiting dangerous or unnecessary functions and services prevents exposure of methods that could be directly exploited.

addresses: CWE-749

Minimal functionality removes or avoids exposure of dangerous methods and functions.

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.AA-05 full match
prevents

Enforcing least-privilege authorization directly prevents unrestricted dangerous API methods.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

Secure SDLC practices stop developers from exposing dangerous functions in the first place.

ID.RA-01 partial match
prevents

Vulnerability identification processes will surface exposed dangerous methods during assessment.

PR.IR-01 partial match
prevents

Logical access controls at the network/environment layer can limit reachability of exposed functions.

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.

detects

Security testing can detect exposed dangerous functions, but does not prevent their initial introduction.

degrades

Restricting privileged utility programs reduces exposure of dangerous functions, but does not eliminate the underlying weakness.

prevents

Privileged access rights limit who can invoke dangerous methods, but do not address whether the method itself should exist.

prevents

Secure development life cycle requires removal or protection of dangerous APIs during design and coding.

prevents

Application security requirements can mandate that dangerous methods are not exposed in interfaces.

prevents

Secure architecture principles discourage exposing dangerous functions, but do not guarantee their absence.

References