CVE-2021-3421: A flaw was found in the RPM package in the read functionality. This flaw allows an attacker who can convince a victim to install a seemingly verifiabl...

Description

A flaw was found in the RPM package in the read functionality. This flaw allows an attacker who can convince a victim to install a seemingly verifiable package or compromise an RPM repository, to cause RPM database corruption. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to data integrity. This flaw affects RPM versions before 4.17.0-alpha.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

5.5/10

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

EPSS Probability

0.70%

48.5th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-347

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Rpm	Rpm	< 4.16.1.3
Redhat	Enterprise Linux	8.0
Fedoraproject	Fedora	32
Fedoraproject	Fedora	33
Fedoraproject	Fedora	34

References

Timeline

Published: May 19, 2021
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-3421?

A flaw was found in the RPM package in the read functionality. This flaw allows an attacker who can convince a victim to install a seemingly verifiable package or compromise an RPM repository, to cause RPM database corruption. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to data integrity. This flaw affects RPM versions before 4.17.0-alpha.

How severe is CVE-2021-3421?

CVE-2021-3421 has a CVSS score of 5.5/10 (MEDIUM severity). The EPSS model estimates a 0.70% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2021-3421?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.