# CVE-2021-20023: SonicWall Email Security Path Traversal Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2021-20023-sonicwall-email-security-path-traversal-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2021-11-03. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2021-20023 · Severity: critical · CVSS 4.9 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2021-11-03

SonicWall Email Security contains a path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22) that allows a post-authenticated attacker to read arbitrary files on the remote host. This vulnerability has been observed in the wild as part of an exploit chain to achieve privilege escalation.

Technologies: [Sonicwall Email Security](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/email-security). Vendors: [SonicWall](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/sonicwall).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2021-20023 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2021-20023 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 3 November 2021. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2021-20023?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 4.9, published 3 November 2021.

**Which products and versions are affected?** SonicWall Email Security up to (excluding) 10.0.9.6173; SonicWall Hosted Email Security up to (excluding) 10.0.9.6173; SonicWall Email Security Virtual Appliance up to (excluding) 10.0.9.6177; SonicWall Email Security Appliance 3300/4300/5000/5050/7000/7050/8300/9000 Firmware up to (excluding) 10.0.9.6177.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2021-20023?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2021-20023 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2021-20023?** Check whether you run Sonicwall Email Security. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Affected products

- SonicWall Email Security up to (excluding) 10.0.9.6173
- SonicWall Hosted Email Security up to (excluding) 10.0.9.6173
- SonicWall Email Security Virtual Appliance up to (excluding) 10.0.9.6177
- SonicWall Email Security Appliance 3300/4300/5000/5050/7000/7050/8300/9000 Firmware up to (excluding) 10.0.9.6177

## Timeline

- 2021-04-23: disclosed: Initial NIST analysis and disclosure
- 2021-11-03: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
- 2021-11-03: advisory: Publication date of the advisory summary

## Related threats

- [SonicWall Email Security Unrestricted Upload of File Vulnerability](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2021-20022-sonicwall-email-security-unrestricted-upload-of-file)
- [SonicWall Email Security Improper Privilege Management Vulnerability](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2021-20021-sonicwall-email-security-improper-privilege-management)