Emissary
CVE-2021-32647
CRITICAL
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V1 - Encoding and Sanitization Input neutralization, injection prevention
|
| Impact | CVSS score of 9.1 (CRITICAL). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, high privileges required, no user interaction not required. Public proof-of-concept exploit code is available. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | This vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network. Successful exploitation could compromise the critical-severity affected system. |
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Alert meAnalysisAI
Emissary is a P2P based data-driven workflow engine. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
RemediationAI
A vendor patch is available. Apply the latest security update as soon as possible. Apply vendor patches when available. Implement network segmentation and monitoring as interim mitigations.
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Technical ContextAI · show details
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-74. Emissary is a P2P based data-driven workflow engine. Affected versions of Emissary are vulnerable to post-authentication Remote Code Execution (RCE). The CreatePlace REST endpoint accepts an sppClassName parameter which is used to load an arbitrary class. This class is later instantiated using a constructor with the following signature: <constructor>(String, String, String). An attacker may find a gadget (class) in the application classpath that could be used to achieve Remote Code Execution (RCE) or disrupt the application. Even though the chances to find a gadget (class) that allow arbitrary code execution are low, an attacker can still find gadgets that could potentially crash the application or leak sensitive data. As a work around disable network access to Emissary from untrusted sources. Affected products include: Nsa Emissary.
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- Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorNVD
DescriptionNVD
Emissary is a P2P based data-driven workflow engine. Affected versions of Emissary are vulnerable to post-authentication Remote Code Execution (RCE). The CreatePlace REST endpoint accepts an sppClassName parameter which is used to load an arbitrary class. This class is later instantiated using a constructor with the following signature: <constructor>(String, String, String). An attacker may find a gadget (class) in the application classpath that could be used to achieve Remote Code Execution (RCE) or disrupt the application. Even though the chances to find a gadget (class) that allow arbitrary code execution are low, an attacker can still find gadgets that could potentially crash the application or leak sensitive data. As a work around disable network access to Emissary from untrusted sources.
Threat Intelligence Overview
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
Information disclosure occurs when an application unintentionally exposes sensitive data that aids attackers in reconnaissance or directly compromises security.
Remote Code Execution represents the critical moment when an attacker successfully runs arbitrary code on a target system without physical access.
Affected Products (CPE)NVD
Emissary is a P2P-based, data-driven workflow engine. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.9), this vulnerability is remotely
The ConsoleAction component of U.S. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authe
The ConfigFileAction component of U.S. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low
A Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the DocumentAction component of U.S. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.1), thi
Shell command injection in Emissary workflow engine below version 8.39.0 allows high-privileged attackers with repositor
U.S. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch
U.S. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch
Command injection in NSA Emissary P2P workflow engine (versions prior to 8.39.0) allows authenticated remote administrat
Emissary is a distributed, peer-to-peer, data-driven workflow framework. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.2), this vulnerabil
Emissary versions prior to 8.39.0 allow unauthenticated remote attackers to read arbitrary configuration files through p
Stored cross-site scripting in Emissary prior to 8.39.0 allows authenticated administrators to inject malicious javascri
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
GitHub
Exploit-DB