Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This flaw affects curl downloads that use metalink files. If one mirror serves tampered content, curl can detect the hash mismatch but still leave the bad file on disk. The main business risk is file integrity in software retrieval or automation workflows that relied on curl metalink verification.
Executive priority
Treat as moderate priority unless metalink downloads support software distribution, build pipelines, or operational automation. In those environments, prioritize remediation because the flaw undermines a control meant to prevent tampered files from being retained.
Technical view
CVE-2021-22922 affects curl 7.27.0 through 7.77.0. In metalink downloads, curl verifies content against the metalink XML hash, but on mismatch it only reports the problem and keeps the potentially malicious file instead of deleting it and trying another URL. CVSS 3.1 is 6.5 with high integrity impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely where affected curl versions are used with the metalink feature, especially package retrieval, installers, images, or automation that accepts downloaded files after curl exits. Systems with curl present but no metalink usage have lower practical exposure based on the provided evidence.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show active exploitation, and the CVE is not marked KEV. Exploitation would require a user or automation path using metalink downloads and a compromised or malicious content source among the listed mirrors. No public weaponization evidence is provided here.
Researcher notes
The key condition is metalink-specific behavior after a hash mismatch, not general curl downloading. Evidence supports high integrity impact but no confidentiality or availability impact. Downstream advisories from Fedora, Gentoo, Oracle, NetApp, Siemens, and Apache Kafka image discussions indicate ecosystem relevance.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade curl using vendor-supported packages outside the affected version range.
- Review vendor advisories for downstream products bundling curl.
- Avoid metalink-based download workflows until affected curl versions are removed.
- Ensure automation rejects downloads when curl reports hash mismatch.
- Re-fetch critical artifacts from trusted sources after remediation.
Validation and detection
- Inventory curl versions and identify 7.27.0 through 7.77.0.
- Search build, installer, and operations scripts for metalink usage.
- Check downstream vendor advisories for embedded curl exposure.
- Confirm patched systems no longer run affected curl builds.
- Review logs or job output for historical hash mismatch warnings.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
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CWE-840: Exact CWE lookup
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Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-22922 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 6.5 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N2.83.6Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
6.5MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://hackerone.com/reports/1213175CVE reference
- FEDORA-2021-5d21b90a30CVE reference · vendor-advisory
- [kafka-dev] 20210831 Security vulnerabilities in kafka:2.13-2.6.0/2.7.0 docker imageCVE reference · mailing-list
- [kafka-users] 20210831 Security vulnerabilities in kafka:2.13-2.6.0/2.7.0 docker imageCVE reference · mailing-list
- [kafka-users] 20210901 Re: [EXTERNAL] Re: Security vulnerabilities in kafka:2.13-2.6.0/2.7.0 docker imageCVE reference · mailing-list
- [kafka-dev] 20210901 Re: [EXTERNAL] Re: Security vulnerabilities in kafka:2.13-2.6.0/2.7.0 docker imageCVE reference · mailing-list
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2021.htmlCVE reference
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210902-0003/CVE reference
- https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-389290.pdfCVE reference
- GLSA-202212-01CVE reference · vendor-advisory
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Business Logic Errors
Business Logic Errors represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.