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CVE Record

CVE-2021-22946: A user can tell curl >= 7.20.0 and <= 7.78.0 to require a successful upgrade to TLS when speaking to an IMA...

A user can tell curl >= 7.20.0 and <= 7.78.0 to require a successful upgrade to TLS when speaking to an IMAP, POP3 or FTP server (`--ssl-reqd` on the command line or`CURLOPT_USE_SSL` set to `CURLUSESSL_CONTROL` or `CURLUSESSL_ALL` withlibcurl). This requirement could be bypassed if the server would return a properly crafted but perfectly legitimate response.This flaw would then make curl silently continue its operations **withoutTLS** contrary to the instructions and expectations, exposing possibly sensitive data in clear text over the network.

HighCVSS 7.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysis

Security readout for executives and security teams

Curl could be told to require TLS for FTP, IMAP, or POP3, but a server response could make it continue without encryption. That could expose credentials or transferred data in clear text when users believed TLS was mandatory. Exposure is most likely where scripts, appliances, applications, or OS packages use affected curl/libcurl for FTP, IMAP, or POP3 over untrusted networks with required TLS upgrade settings. Treat as high priority for environments where curl handles credentials, mail, or file transfers over networks you do not fully control. Lower urgency applies where affected protocols are unused or traffic is isolated. Mitigation focus: Replace curl/libcurl 7.20.0 through 7.78.0 with vendor-supported fixed packages.; Prioritize systems using curl for FTP, IMAP, or POP3 across untrusted networks.; Review Debian, Fedora, Apple, Oracle, NetApp, Siemens, and Gentoo advisories where applicable..

Prepared

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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 · low confidence lookup

CWE-319: Exact CWE lookup

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cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-325: Exact CWE lookup

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2021-22946 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.5 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

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

Official CVE source material

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.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
16Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.5CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N3.93.6Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.5High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2021-22946Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/ahttps://github.com/curl/curlcurl 7.20.0 to and including 7.78.0Listed
Weakness

CWE details

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-319 · source CWE mapping

Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information

Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

CWE-325 · source CWE mapping

Missing Cryptographic Step

Missing Cryptographic Step represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.