---
title: "CVE-2021-22160: Authentication with JWT allows use… | CubePath"
description: "If Apache Pulsar is configured to authenticate clients using tokens based on JSON Web Tokens (JWT), the signature of the token is not validated…"
language: en
source: https://cubepath.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-22160
---

# CVE-2021-22160: Authentication with JWT allows use… | CubePath

## Description

If Apache Pulsar is configured to authenticate clients using tokens based on JSON Web Tokens (JWT), the signature of the token is not validated if the algorithm of the presented token is set to "none". This allows an attacker to connect to Pulsar instances as any user (incl. admins).

Official description from the CVE record, published by apache. Copyright © 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. See [/security/cve/legal](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal) for the CVE license. [View the record on cve.org](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-22160)

## Key data

### EPSS

Exploit Prediction Scoring System by FIRST: an estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days.

Score

0.52926 (52.9% probability)

Percentile

99.0%

Scores of

Nov 10, 2026

Model

v2026.06.15

## Affected products

Products listed in the CVE record, as the CNA published them.

- Apache Pulsar

  - affected: Apache Pulsar up to before 2.7.1

## References

Links listed in the CVE record. They lead to other sites, which CubePath does not control.

- [lists.apache.org/thread.html/r347650d15a3e9c5f58b83e918b6ad…](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r347650d15a3e9c5f58b83e918b6ad6dedc2a63d3eb63da8e6a7be87e%40%3Cusers.pulsar.apache.org%3E)
- [\[pulsar-dev\] 20210527 Cutting 2.6.4 release to address CVE-2021-22160](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rf2e90942996dceebac8296abf39257cfeb5ae918f82f7af3d37a48c5%40%3Cdev.pulsar.apache.org%3E)  (lists.apache.org) mailing-list
- [\[pulsar-dev\] 20210527 Re: \[SECURITY\] \[CVE-2021-22160\] Authentication with JWT allows use of "none"-algorithm](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/ra49cb62105154e4795b259c79a6b27d63bfa2ab5787ff8529b089550%40%3Cdev.pulsar.apache.org%3E)  (lists.apache.org) mailing-list
- [\[pulsar-users\] 20210527 Re: \[SECURITY\] \[CVE-2021-22160\] Authentication with JWT allows use of "none"-algorithm](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/ra49cb62105154e4795b259c79a6b27d63bfa2ab5787ff8529b089550%40%3Cusers.pulsar.apache.org%3E)  (lists.apache.org) mailing-list
- [\[pulsar-dev\] 20210527 Re: Cutting 2.6.4 release to address CVE-2021-22160](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r8e545559781231a83bf0644548c660255859e52feb86bbfcd42590da%40%3Cdev.pulsar.apache.org%3E)  (lists.apache.org) mailing-list
- [Re: \[SECURITY\] \[CVE-2021-22160\] Authentication with JWT allows use of “none”-algorithm](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r9a12b4da2f26ce9b8f7e7117a879efaa973dab7e54717bbc7923fab1%40%3Cdev.pulsar.apache.org%3E)  (lists.apache.org) mailing-list
- [\[pulsar-dev\] 20210531 Re: \[DISCUSS\] Propose More Formal Policy for Security Patches and EOL of Versions](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rbe845aa1573a61769b9c5916c62971f4b10de87c2ea5f38a97f0cf84%40%3Cdev.pulsar.apache.org%3E)  (lists.apache.org) mailing-list
- [\[pulsar-dev\] 20210604 Re: \[DISCUSS\] Propose More Formal Policy for Security Patches and EOL of Versions](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rca54f4b26ba5e6f2e39732b47ec51640e89f57e3b6a38ac3bab314df%40%3Cdev.pulsar.apache.org%3E)  (lists.apache.org) mailing-list

## Timeline

1. ID reserved Jan 5, 2021
2. Record published May 26, 2021
3. Record last updated Aug 3, 2024

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## About CubePath

CubePath is a cloud provider with data centers in Europe and the United States. It offers VPS, bare metal servers and DDoS protection.

[Cloud VPS](https://cubepath.com/vps) [DDoS protection](https://cubepath.com/ddos-protection)

Data from the CVE Program (MITRE), CISA KEV and FIRST EPSS. CVSS is owned by FIRST and used by permission. Not affiliated with or endorsed by MITRE, CISA or FIRST. Data as of Nov 10, 2026, 20:04 UTC. [Sources and licenses](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal)