motioneye

CVE-2021-44255

CVE-2021-44255 is a high-severity unrestricted upload of dangerous file types vulnerability in motioneye (pip), affecting versions <= 0.42.1. No fixed version is listed yet.

Key facts
CVSS score
7.2
High
Attack vector
Network
Issuing authority
GitHub Advisory Database
Affected package
motioneye
Fixed in
Not available
Disclosed
2021

Summary

motionEye <= 0.42.1 and motioneEyeOS <= 20200606 allow a remote attacker to upload a configuration backup file containing a malicious python pickle file. This is possible when an installation is accessible over the Internet and uses no or poor authentication credentials. The GitHub repositories for motionEye and motionEyeOS are no longer being actively maintained as of January 2022, so release of a patched version is unlikely. Keeping a motionEye or motionEyeOS installation off of the Internet and/or using strong credentials provide protection against this issue.

Impact

What is unrestricted upload of dangerous file types?

The application accepts file uploads without adequately restricting the file type or content. Typical impact: remote code execution if the uploaded file can be served and executed on the server.

Severity and exposure

CVE-2021-44255 has a CVSS score of 7.2 (High). The vector is network-reachable, high 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.

No fixed version is listed yet, so configuration controls and monitoring matter more in the interim.

Affected versions

pip

  • motioneye (<= 0.42.1)

Security releases

Not available
Kodem intelligence

Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.

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 instead of chasing every advisory.

Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether CVE-2021-44255 is reachable in your applications. Explore open-source security for your team.

See if CVE-2021-44255 is reachable in your applications. Get a demo

Already deployed Kodem? See CVE-2021-44255 in your environment

Remediation advice

No fixed version is listed for CVE-2021-44255 yet.

In the interim: Validate file type by inspecting the content, not just the extension or MIME type declared by the client. Store uploads outside the web root.

Kodem Kai can prioritize this vulnerability in your dependency tree and generate a fix recommendation.

Frequently asked questions about CVE-2021-44255

What is CVE-2021-44255?

CVE-2021-44255 is a high-severity unrestricted upload of dangerous file types vulnerability in motioneye (pip), affecting versions <= 0.42.1. No fixed version is listed yet. The application accepts file uploads without adequately restricting the file type or content.

How severe is CVE-2021-44255?

CVE-2021-44255 has a CVSS score of 7.2 (High). 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.

Which versions of motioneye are affected by CVE-2021-44255?

motioneye (pip) versions <= 0.42.1 is affected.

Is there a fix for CVE-2021-44255?

No fixed version is listed for CVE-2021-44255 yet. Monitor the advisory for updates and apply mitigations in the interim.

Is CVE-2021-44255 exploitable, and should I be worried?

Whether CVE-2021-44255 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

What actually determines whether CVE-2021-44255 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.

How do I fix CVE-2021-44255?

No fixed version is listed yet. In the interim: Validate file type by inspecting the content, not just the extension or MIME type declared by the client. Store uploads outside the web root.

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