What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-38162?

CVE-2021-38162 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.4 (Critical). CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L. EPSS exploitation probability: 2.7%.

Is there a public PoC exploit available for CVE-2021-38162?

Yes, a public proof-of-concept exploit is available for CVE-2021-38162. Prioritise patching immediately. EPSS: 2.7%.

Web Dispatcher CVE-2021-38162

CRITICAL

HTTP Request/Response Smuggling (CWE-444)

2021-09-14 cna@sap.com

Information Disclosure SAP Request Smuggling Web Dispatcher

9.4

CVSS 3.1 · NVD

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Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness	CWE CWE-444 OWASP Top 10:2025 A06:2025 - Insecure Design ASVS 5.0 V4 - API and Web Service HTTP request consistency
Impact	CVSS score of 9.4 (CRITICAL). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction not required. Public proof-of-concept exploit code is available.
Exploit ScenarioDerived	A remote attacker could manipulate HTTP request interpretation between frontend and backend servers by sending crafted requests to the affected application. No authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Why: CRITICAL severity + public POC available.

No patch listed yet 2.7% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

SAP Web Dispatcher versions - 7.49, 7.53, 7.77, 7.81, KRNL64NUC - 7.22, 7.22EXT, 7.49, KRNL64UC -7.22, 7.22EXT, 7.49, 7.53, KERNEL - 7.22, 7.49, 7.53, 7.77, 7.81, 7.83 processes allow an. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.

RemediationAI

No vendor patch is available at time of analysis. Monitor vendor advisories for updates. Enforce strict HTTP parsing, normalize requests at proxy layer, use HTTP/2 end-to-end, reject ambiguous headers.

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Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified as HTTP Request/Response Smuggling (CWE-444), which allows attackers to manipulate HTTP request interpretation between frontend and backend servers. SAP Web Dispatcher versions - 7.49, 7.53, 7.77, 7.81, KRNL64NUC - 7.22, 7.22EXT, 7.49, KRNL64UC -7.22, 7.22EXT, 7.49, 7.53, KERNEL - 7.22, 7.49, 7.53, 7.77, 7.81, 7.83 processes allow an unauthenticated attacker to submit a malicious crafted request over a network to a front-end server which may, over several attempts, result in a back-end server confusing the boundaries of malicious and legitimate messages. This can result in the back-end server executing a malicious payload which can be used to read or modify any information on the server or consume server resources making it temporarily unavailable. Affected products include: Sap Web Dispatcher.

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Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 9.4 CRITICAL

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

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector

Network

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

None

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

Low

DescriptionNVD

SAP Web Dispatcher versions - 7.49, 7.53, 7.77, 7.81, KRNL64NUC - 7.22, 7.22EXT, 7.49, KRNL64UC -7.22, 7.22EXT, 7.49, 7.53, KERNEL - 7.22, 7.49, 7.53, 7.77, 7.81, 7.83 processes allow an unauthenticated attacker to submit a malicious crafted request over a network to a front-end server which may, over several attempts, result in a back-end server confusing the boundaries of malicious and legitimate messages. This can result in the back-end server executing a malicious payload which can be used to read or modify any information on the server or consume server resources making it temporarily unavailable.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score

2.7%

Top 16% exploitable

Exploit

POC

Public exploit code exists

Data Quality

2 sources

Confidence: Low

NVD

CVE.org

EPSS

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.

SignalValue

Severity CRITICAL

CISA KEV No

Public POC Yes

EPSS 2.7%

Patch available No

Active threat No

Deciding rule

CRITICAL severity + public POC available

What every action level means

Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.

Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived

Scheduled

Exploitation· derived

Poc

System Exposure· derived

Open

Automatable· derived

Yes

Human Impact· derived

Medium

Priority Score

Low Medium High Critical

KEV: 0

EPSS: +3

CVSS: +47

PoC: +20

Weaponized: 0

Threat intel: 0

Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

HTTP Request Smuggling HIGH

HTTP request smuggling exploits inconsistencies in how front-end and back-end servers parse HTTP message boundaries.

Information Disclosure MEDIUM

Information disclosure occurs when an application unintentionally exposes sensitive data that aids attackers in reconnaissance or directly compromises security.