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CVE Record

CVE-2021-3535: Rapid7 Nexpose is vulnerable to a non-persistent cross-site scripting vulnerability affecting the Security...

Rapid7 Nexpose is vulnerable to a non-persistent cross-site scripting vulnerability affecting the Security Console's Filtered Asset Search feature. A specific search criterion and operator combination in Filtered Asset Search could have allowed a user to pass code through the provided search field. This issue affects version 6.6.80 and prior, and is fixed in 6.6.81. If your Security Console currently falls on or within this affected version range, ensure that you update your Security Console to the latest version.

MediumCVSS 4.3Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2021-3535 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting flaw in Rapid7 Nexpose Security Console's Filtered Asset Search. Certain search choices could allow code to pass through the search field. The known fix is upgrading affected consoles from 6.6.80 or earlier to 6.6.81 or later.

Executive priority

Treat this as a routine but necessary remediation for security tooling. It is not shown as exploited, but affected consoles should be upgraded because the vulnerable component is part of a security management system.

Technical view

The issue is CWE-79, non-persistent XSS, with CVSS 3.1 score 4.3. The vector is network-reachable, low complexity, no privileges, user interaction required, unchanged scope, and low confidentiality impact only. Sources identify Rapid7 Nexpose Security Console Filtered Asset Search as the affected area.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely limited to Rapid7 Nexpose Security Console deployments running version 6.6.80 or earlier. Organizations without Nexpose, or already on 6.6.81 or later, are not indicated as affected by the provided sources.

Exploitation context

The provided bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or any cited evidence of active exploitation. The CVSS vector requires user interaction, and the documented impact is limited to confidentiality with no integrity or availability impact.

Researcher notes

Evidence is narrow: one Rapid7-confirmed release note and CVE metadata. Do not broaden affected products beyond Rapid7 Nexpose or assert exploitation. Focus validation on version state and the Filtered Asset Search surface named in the advisory.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade Rapid7 Nexpose Security Console to 6.6.81 or later.
  • Confirm all Security Console instances are on a supported current version.
  • Use Rapid7 release notes as the authoritative remediation reference.
  • Check vendor guidance before relying on compensating controls.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory every Rapid7 Nexpose Security Console deployment and record versions.
  • Flag any console running 6.6.80 or earlier as affected.
  • Confirm the upgrade completed by rechecking the console version.
  • Review access logs for suspicious Filtered Asset Search activity if available.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
3

Public sources used

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

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cwe · medium confidence lookup

CWE-79: User-session and phishing behavior lookup

Client-side and session-facing weaknesses should be reviewed alongside initial-access and user-execution behaviors. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2021-3535 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
Medium
CVSS
4.3 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/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
2Source 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
4.3CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N2.81.4Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

4.3Medium
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2021-3535Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/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
Rapid7Rapid7 NexposeunspecifiedListed
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-79

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