---
title: "CVE-2021-22893: Improper Authentication | CubePath"
description: "Pulse Connect Secure 9.0R3/9.1R1 and higher is vulnerable to an authentication bypass vulnerability exposed by the Windows File Share Browser and Pulse…"
language: en
source: https://cubepath.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-22893
---

# CVE-2021-22893: Improper Authentication | CubePath

## Description

Pulse Connect Secure 9.0R3/9.1R1 and higher is vulnerable to an authentication bypass vulnerability exposed by the Windows File Share Browser and Pulse Secure Collaboration features of Pulse Connect Secure that can allow an unauthenticated user to perform remote arbitrary code execution on the Pulse Connect Secure gateway. This vulnerability has been exploited in the wild.

Official description from the CVE record, published by hackerone. 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-2021-22893)

## Key data

### CVSS 3.1 Critical 10.0

Score published by CISA-ADP in the CVE record.

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

| Metric                 | Value   | What it means                                                                       |
| ---------------------- | ------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Attack vector          | Network | The vulnerable component can be reached over a network, possibly from the Internet. |
| Attack complexity      | Low     | No special conditions are needed. The attack can be repeated at will.               |
| Privileges required    | None    | No account or privileges are needed.                                                |
| User interaction       | None    | No action from any user is needed.                                                  |
| Scope                  | Changed | The impact can reach other components beyond the vulnerable one.                    |
| Confidentiality impact | High    | Serious or total effect on the secrecy of data.                                     |
| Integrity impact       | High    | Serious or total effect on the trustworthiness of data.                             |
| Availability impact    | High    | Serious or total effect on availability.                                            |

CVSS is owned and managed by FIRST.Org, Inc. (FIRST) and is used by permission. Each CVSS score on this site is shown together with its vector string, as published in the CVE record by the source named next to it. Learn more at [first.org/cvss](https://www.first.org/cvss/) .

### EPSS

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

Score

0.47508 (47.5% probability)

Percentile

98.9%

Scores of

Nov 10, 2026

Model

v2026.06.15

### CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities

This CVE is listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

Name in the catalog

Ivanti Pulse Connect Secure Use-After-Free Vulnerability

Added to the catalog

Nov 3, 2021

Federal due date

May 3, 2022

Ransomware campaigns

Known use

### CISA assessment as of Apr 20, 2021

Stakeholder-Specific Vulnerability Categorization (SSVC) decision points added by CISA.

Exploitation

Recorded by CISA as active

Automatable

yes

Technical impact

total

### Weakness (CWE)

CWE catalog version 5.0.

CWE names: Copyright © 2006-2026, The MITRE Corporation. See [/security/cve/legal](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal) for the CWE license.

- [CWE-287](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/287.html) Improper Authentication

## Affected products

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

- Pulse Connect Secure

  - affected: PCS 9.0R3 or above, PCS 9.1R1 and above

## References

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

- [kb.pulsesecure.net/articles/Pulse\_Security\_Advisories/SA447…](https://kb.pulsesecure.net/articles/Pulse%5FSecurity%5FAdvisories/SA44784/)
- [blog.pulsesecure.net/pulse-connect-secure-security-update](https://blog.pulsesecure.net/pulse-connect-secure-security-update/)
- [fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2021/04/suspected-apt-acto…](https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2021/04/suspected-apt-actors-leverage-bypass-techniques-pulse-secure-zero-day.html)
- [kb.cert.org/vuls/id/213092](https://kb.cert.org/vuls/id/213092)
- [kb.cert.org/vuls/id/213092](https://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/213092)

## Timeline

1. ID reserved Jan 6, 2021
2. Record published Apr 23, 2021
3. Added to CISA KEV Nov 3, 2021
4. Record last updated Aug 12, 2026

## Look up another CVE

## 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, 20:03 UTC. [Sources and licenses](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal)