Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Roundcube webmail versions before 1.3.17 and 1.4.x before 1.4.12 contain a critical SQL injection risk in search handling. Because Roundcube often protects email access, compromise could expose sensitive mailbox data and affect service integrity.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation immediately for any internet-facing Roundcube instance. The vulnerability is critical, remotely reachable, requires no authentication per CVSS, and appears in CISA KEV as known exploited.
Technical view
CVE-2021-44026 is a CWE-89 SQL injection affecting Roundcube search or search_params handling. The CVSS 3.1 score is 9.8, with network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges, and no user interaction. Fixed upstream versions are 1.3.17 and 1.4.12.
Likely exposure
Organizations running Roundcube webmail below 1.3.17 or 1.4.x below 1.4.12 are the primary exposure. Internet-facing webmail deployments carry the highest concern. Distribution-packaged Roundcube should be checked against Debian and Fedora advisories.
Exploitation context
CISA KEV lists CVE-2021-44026 as known exploited. The provided sources do not describe exploitation campaigns, affected targets, or technical exploit details. Treat exposed, outdated Roundcube as urgent until verified fixed.
Researcher notes
Focus validation on Roundcube search and search_params exposure, version lineage, and package backports. Do not assume package version numbers alone prove vulnerability without checking distribution security advisories and applied patches.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade Roundcube to 1.3.17, 1.4.12, or a later supported release.
- Apply Debian or Fedora security updates if Roundcube is distribution-managed.
- Temporarily restrict external access if patching cannot happen immediately.
- Review vendor guidance and upstream commits before relying on compensating controls.
Validation and detection
- Inventory all Roundcube webmail instances, including hosted and distribution-packaged deployments.
- Confirm each instance version is 1.3.17, 1.4.12, or later.
- Check package changelogs against Debian DSA-5013 or Fedora advisories where applicable.
- Verify exposed webmail endpoints are no longer running vulnerable builds.
Public sources used
Michael Williams reviewed this cited source version on .
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-89: Database access and collection lookup
Injection into data stores can inform collection, data access, and exfiltration detection reviews. 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 lookupDatabase behavior lookup
The CVE wording references database injection or access, so collection and exfiltration review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-44026 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
- Critical
- CVSS
- 9.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- Yes
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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.
CISA KEV status
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:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
9.8CriticalVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://bugs.debian.org/1000156CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/roundcube/roundcubemail/commit/c8947ecb762d9e89c2091bda28d49002817263f1CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/roundcube/roundcubemail/commit/ee809bde2dcaa04857a919397808a7296681dcfaCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- FEDORA-2021-167865df98CVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_FEDORA
- FEDORA-2021-43d3c10590CVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_FEDORA
- DSA-5013CVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_DEBIAN
- [debian-lts-announce] 20211206 [SECURITY] [DLA 2840-1] roundcube security updateCVE reference · mailing-list, x_refsource_MLIST
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-44026CVE reference · government-resource
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.
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.