Used in attacks· fix by 2021-11-174.9MediumUsed by ransomware gangs

SonicWall SonicWall Email Security

CVE-2021-20023

SonicWall Email Security contains a path traversal vulnerability that allows a post-authenticated attacker to read files on the remote host. This vulnerability has known usage in a SonicWall Email Security exploit chain along with CVE-2021-20021 and CVE-2021-20022 to achieve privilege escalation.

What this means for your business

  • It affects SonicWall Email Security. It matters if your company, or a supplier that handles your data, runs it.
  • Attackers are already using it. CISA added it to its list of flaws used in real attacks on 3 November 2021.
  • Ransomware gangs are known to have used it.
  • An attacker can use it remotely, over a network, with an administrator login, and without anyone at your company clicking anything.
  • FIRST's prediction model gives it a 51% chance of attack attempts being seen in the next 30 days, ranking above 98% of all known flaws.

What to do

  1. 1Check whether your company or your suppliers run SonicWall Email Security, and which version. The affected versions are listed further down this page.
  2. 2If you do, apply the vendor's fix. A patch or vendor advisory has been published.
  3. 3Treat it as urgent. US federal agencies must fix it by 17 November 2021. That deadline does not apply to private companies, but it shows how seriously CISA takes it.
  4. 4Because attackers have used it, check the affected systems for signs of a break-in, not only for the update.

Not sure if your company is exposed?

Fastnexa’s certified penetration testers can check whether attackers could use this flaw, or others like it, against your websites, apps and network. The full test is free for our first 10 founding clients until 31 December 2026.

Required action

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

CISA’s wording, unedited.

Scoring

CVSS
4.9 (v3.1)
Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Weakness
CWE-22
Assigned by
PSIRT@sonicwall.com

Dates

Published
2021-11-03
Last modified
2026-08-12
Added to KEV
2021-11-03
Remediation due
2021-11-17
Sources
CISA KEV, NVD

Affected products

  • Sonicwall Email Security- 10.0.9.6173
  • Microsoft Windowsall versions
  • Sonicwall Email Security Appliance 9000 Firmware- 10.0.9.6177
  • Sonicwall Email Security Appliance 9000all versions
  • Sonicwall Email Security Appliance 3300 Firmware- 10.0.9.6177
  • Sonicwall Email Security Appliance 3300all versions
  • Sonicwall Email Security Appliance 4300 Firmware- 10.0.9.6177
  • Sonicwall Email Security Appliance 4300all versions
  • Sonicwall Email Security Appliance 8300 Firmware- 10.0.9.6177
  • Sonicwall Email Security Appliance 8300all versions
  • Sonicwall Email Security Appliance 5000 Firmware- 10.0.9.6177
  • Sonicwall Email Security Appliance 5000all versions

As listed in the NVD configuration data. Not a statement about your estate.

References