# What is CVE-2021-39226?

> CVE-2021-39226 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.3) in Grafana, published on 5 October 2021. It is on the list of flaws known to be exploited, so criminals are already using it. The latest forecast puts its chance of use in the next 30 days at over 99%. If you run an affected version, patch it first.

Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/what-is/cve-2021-39226

## At a glance

- **Verdict:** Fix this now. Attackers are using this flaw today. If you run an affected version, it goes to the top of your list.
- **Precursor Intelligence risk score:** 90 out of 100 (Critical); action: Emergency patch. Kept up to date as the evidence changes.
- **Severity:** High (CVSS 7.3 out of 10)
- **Known to be exploited:** Yes, it is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited
- **Chance of use in the next 30 days:** over 99% (latest exploit-likelihood forecast)
- **Published:** 5 October 2021
- **Record last updated:** 24 October 2025
- **Main product:** Grafana
- **Affected products:** 2

## What is CVE-2021-39226? In plain terms

It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can read some data, change some data and slow it down.

### The official description

Grafana is an open source data visualization platform. In affected versions unauthenticated and authenticated users are able to view the snapshot with the lowest database key by accessing the literal paths: /dashboard/snapshot/:key, or /api/snapshots/:key. If the snapshot "public_mode" configuration setting is set to true (vs default of false), unauthenticated users are able to delete the snapshot with the lowest database key by accessing the literal path: /api/snapshots-delete/:deleteKey. Regardless of the snapshot "public_mode" setting, authenticated users are able to delete the snapshot with the lowest database key by accessing the literal paths: /api/snapshots/:key, or /api/snapshots-delete/:deleteKey. The combination of deletion and viewing enables a complete walk through all snapshot data while resulting in complete snapshot data loss. This issue has been resolved in versions 8.1.6 and 7.5.11. If for some reason you cannot upgrade you can use a reverse proxy or similar to block access to the literal paths: /api/snapshots/:key, /api/snapshots-delete/:deleteKey, /dashboard/snapshot/:key, and /api/snapshots/:key. They have no normal function and can be disabled without side effects.

### What kind of flaw is it?

- CWE-287: Improper Authentication
- CWE-862: Missing Authorization

### How an attack on it works

- Where an attacker can be: Anywhere on the internet
- How hard it is to pull off: Easy: no special conditions
- Login needed first: No login needed
- Does someone have to click: No, nobody has to do anything
- What an attacker gets: Can read some data, change some data and slow it down

Severity vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L`

## Is CVE-2021-39226 being exploited? Yes

Attackers are already using it. It is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited, and the latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at over 99%.

Exploit likelihood over the last 7 days: >99%, >99%, >99%, >99%, >99%, >99%, >99%.

### Timeline

- 5 October 2021: Published
- 24 October 2025: Record last updated

### How Precursor Intelligence ranks it

CVE-2021-39226 scores **90 out of 100 (Critical)**, with the action "Emergency patch".

Every published flaw gets a risk score from 0 to 100, kept up to date as the evidence changes. Four things go into the score, from the one that counts most to the ones that count less:

- Evidence it is being exploited: biggest factor
- How severe it is: strong factor
- How widely exposed it is: smaller factor
- Threat activity around it: smaller factor

85 and above is Critical. Anything confirmed as exploited is always marked for an emergency patch, whatever its score. When this flaw matches software you track, it lands in your list with its score and the reasons behind it.

## Who is affected by CVE-2021-39226?

The published record lists 2 products. Versions are as published: "before 7.5.11" means every version up to, but not including, 7.5.11.

- [Grafana](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/grafana/grafana) by [Grafana](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/grafana) (Application): before 7.5.11, 8.0.0 to before 8.1.6
- [Fedora](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/fedoraproject/fedora) by [Fedoraproject](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/fedoraproject) (Operating system): 34, 35

## How do I fix CVE-2021-39226?

1. **Check whether you run it.** Compare your versions with the affected products above. Not sure what you run? Precursor Intelligence can work it out from your public website, or you can pick it from a list.
2. **Apply the vendor’s fix.** Install the update named in the vendor’s advisory. We’ve put the advisories and patch notes first in the list.
3. **If you can’t patch today.** Follow any mitigation the vendor publishes, and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet until the update is in.
4. **Check it wasn’t used before you patched.** Because criminals are already using this flaw, look for signs of a break-in on affected systems using the vendor’s guidance.

### References

- [github.com](https://github.com/grafana/grafana/commit/2d456a6375855364d098ede379438bf7f0667269) (Patch)
- [github.com](https://github.com/grafana/grafana/security/advisories/GHSA-69j6-29vr-p3j9) (Exploit, Mitigation, Vendor advisory)
- [openwall.com](http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/10/05/4) (Mailing list, Third-party advisory)
- [grafana.com](https://grafana.com/docs/grafana/latest/release-notes/release-notes-7-5-11/) (Release notes)
- [grafana.com](https://grafana.com/docs/grafana/latest/release-notes/release-notes-8-1-6/) (Release notes)
- [lists.fedoraproject.org](https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/DCKBFUSY6V4VU5AQUYWKISREZX5NLQJT/) (Broken link)
- [lists.fedoraproject.org](https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/E6ANHRDBXQT6TURLP2THM26ZPDINFBEG/) (Broken link)
- [security.netapp.com](https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20211029-0008/) (Third-party advisory)
- [cisa.gov](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-39226) (Government resource)

## Questions

### What is CVE-2021-39226?

CVE-2021-39226 is a high-severity flaw in Grafana, published on 5 October 2021. It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can read some data, change some data and slow it down.

### How serious is CVE-2021-39226?

It scores 7.3 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is high. Our risk score for CVE-2021-39226 is 90 out of 100, which is Critical. Its action is "Emergency patch". Attackers are using this flaw today. If you run an affected version, it goes to the top of your list.

### Is CVE-2021-39226 being exploited?

Attackers are already using it. It is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited, and the latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at over 99%.

### Which versions does CVE-2021-39226 affect?

For Grafana: before 7.5.11, 8.0.0 to before 8.1.6. The record lists 2 products in all, each with its versions, under "Who is affected" on this page.

### How do I fix CVE-2021-39226?

Install the update the vendor names in its advisory, linked first under "How do I fix" on this page. If you can't patch today, follow the vendor's mitigation and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet. Because criminals are already using it, also check affected systems for signs of a break-in.

## Does CVE-2021-39226 affect you?

Precursor Intelligence keeps checking for you:

- **Tell us what you run.** Pick your software from a list, or let us work it out from your website.
- **We match it to every flaw.** Over 400,000 published flaws, checked against your list.
- **Ranked by real-world risk.** Every flaw gets a 0 to 100 risk score, kept up to date, led by evidence criminals are using it.
- **Told as soon as we know.** An alert by email, in the app or by webhook to your own tools.

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