Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-38305 affects 23andMe Yamale before 3.0.8. A malicious schema file can make Yamale run arbitrary code because schema processing uses Python eval. Business risk is highest where systems process schemas from users, partners, repositories, or automated pipelines.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation where Yamale processes external schemas or runs in CI, automation, or production services. Treat as lower urgency for isolated developer-only use with trusted schemas, but still upgrade during normal dependency maintenance.
Technical view
Yamale before 3.0.8 evaluates schema lines with Python eval while trying to restrict available builtins. The CVE states a crafted schema rule can execute system commands in the context of the image or process invoking Yamale.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to applications, build jobs, or validation services using Yamale before 3.0.8 and processing attacker-controlled or untrusted schema files. Processing only trusted, internally maintained schemas materially reduces likelihood.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation evidence. The CVE describes remote attack potential through a crafted schema file, so exploitability depends on whether an attacker can influence schemas processed by Yamale.
Researcher notes
The affected product is Yamale before 3.0.8. The source bundle lacks CVSS, CWE, detailed affected CPEs, and exploit telemetry. Analysis should avoid assuming broad exposure beyond systems that parse untrusted schema files.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade Yamale to 3.0.8 or later.
- Reject or tightly control untrusted schema files.
- Pin safe Yamale versions in dependency lockfiles.
- Review vendor release notes and PR details.
- Rebuild runtime images that include vulnerable Yamale.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Yamale versions across applications and images.
- Check dependency manifests and lockfiles for Yamale below 3.0.8.
- Identify services or jobs accepting external schema files.
- Confirm deployed containers use rebuilt, patched dependencies.
- Review validation workflows for attacker-controlled schema paths.
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
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
Execution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-38305 mapping review
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Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
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 and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://github.com/23andMe/Yamale/releases/tag/3.0.8CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/23andMe/Yamale/pull/165CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
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.