CVE-2021-27101
CVE-2021-27101 is a security flaw in Accellion FTA, software companies use to send and receive files. Attackers can read or change the database behind Accellion FTA. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 3 Nov 2021, and says ransomware gangs have used it.[1]
Accellion FTA is business software or equipment. Most families won’t have it, but attackers break into it to get inside companies, and from there to what those companies hold about their customers, patients and staff. Accellion has published a fix or advice.
Description
CISA calls it an SQL injection in Accellion FTA. In its words: “Accellion FTA contains a SQL injection vulnerability exploited via a crafted host header in a request to document_root.html.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “Accellion FTA 9_12_370 and earlier is affected by SQL injection via a crafted Host header in a request to document_root.html. The fixed version is FTA_9_12_380 and later.”[2]
The underlying weakness is SQL injection (CWE-89), CWE-138, in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.
It scores 9.8 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it critical, scored by NVD using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record doesn’t list version ranges for it; Accellion’s advisory has them[3]. CISA names the product as Accellion FTA.
Most families won’t have Accellion FTA; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 3 Nov 2021, 260 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 17 Nov 2021 to fix it.[1] CISA says ransomware gangs have used it.
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 6%. That’s in the top 7% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as not automatable: each attack takes some work.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
Accellion has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply updates per vendor instructions.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.Accellion FTA is business software or equipment, so most families won’t have it. If you run a business, or work from home on company equipment, ask whoever looks after your IT.
- Send this page to your IT person.Ask them to confirm it’s fixed, or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 17 Nov 2021 to fix it.
- If it can’t be fixed, take it offline.CISA’s advice when there’s no fix is to stop using the product, or take it off the internet, until there is one.
You can’t fix someone else’s server, but you can watch for what follows a break-in like this: a breach notice, a password reset you didn’t ask for, or a scam message that knows things it shouldn’t. HARD watches for those for you and your family.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 9.8.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks, noting that ransomware gangs have used it.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 6%.[4] |
See also
Other Accellion FTA flaws
- CVE-2021-27104: OS command injection ·
- CVE-2021-27103: server-side request forgery (SSRF) ·
- CVE-2021-27102: OS command injection ·
Other SQL injection flaws
- CVE-2026-114625, Arista VeloCloud Orchestrator: SQL injection ·
- CVE-2026-76461, Cisco Secure Email Gateway: SQL injection ·
- CVE-2026-9586, Sangoma Switchvox: SQL injection ·
- CVE-2026-72898, Metabase: SQL injection ·
- CVE-2026-60137, WordPress Core: SQL injection ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2021-42258, BQE BillQuick Web Suite: SQL injection ·
- CVE-2021-42013, Apache HTTP Server: path traversal ·
- CVE-2021-41773, Apache HTTP Server: path traversal ·
- CVE-2021-40539, Zoho ManageEngine: aDSelfService plus authentication bypass ·
- CVE-2021-40444, Microsoft MSHTML: remote code execution ·
Every Accellion flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in November 2021
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Accellion FTA SQL Injection Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 3 Nov 2021.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2021-27101 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 16 Feb 2021.
- ^ Accellion. Advisories and fixes: accellion.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.060, percentile 93.3, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2021-27101”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.