CVE-2021-31232

Improper input validation in CNCF Cortex

The Alertmanager in CNCF Cortex before 1.8.1 has a local file disclosure vulnerability when -experimental.alertmanager.enable-api is used. The HTTP basic auth password_file can be used as an attack vector to send any file content via a webhook. The alertmanager templates can be used as an attack vector to send any file content because the alertmanager can load any text file specified in the templates list.

The application does not adequately validate input before processing it, allowing unexpected values to reach sensitive code paths. Typical impact: varies by context: data corruption, logic bypass, or denial of service.

CVE-2021-31232 has a CVSS score of 5.5 (Medium). The vector is requires local access, low privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. A fixed version is available (1.8.1); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.

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1. What is CVE-2021-31232? CVE-2021-31232 is a medium-severity improper input validation vulnerability in github.com/cortexproject/cortex (go), affecting versions < 1.8.1. It is fixed in 1.8.1. The application does not adequately validate input before processing it, allowing unexpected values to reach sensitive code paths.
2. How severe is CVE-2021-31232? CVE-2021-31232 has a CVSS score of 5.5 (Medium). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
3. Which versions of github.com/cortexproject/cortex are affected by CVE-2021-31232? github.com/cortexproject/cortex (go) versions < 1.8.1 is affected.
4. Is there a fix for CVE-2021-31232? Yes. CVE-2021-31232 is fixed in 1.8.1. Upgrade to this version or later.
5. Is CVE-2021-31232 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2021-31232 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
6. What actually determines whether CVE-2021-31232 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
7. How do I fix CVE-2021-31232? Upgrade github.com/cortexproject/cortex to 1.8.1 or later.

Other vulnerabilities in github.com/cortexproject/cortex