# CVE-2021-27876: Veritas Backup Exec Agent File Access Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2021-27876-veritas-backup-exec-agent-file-access-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2023-04-07. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2021-27876 · Severity: critical · CVSS 8.1 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2023-04-07

Veritas Backup Exec Agent contains a file access vulnerability due to a flaw in the SHA Authentication scheme. An attacker can bypass authentication to execute data management protocol commands with System privileges, allowing unauthorized access to arbitrary files on the host machine.

Technologies: [Veritas Backup Exec Agent](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/backup-exec-agent). Vendors: [Veritas](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/veritas).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2021-27876 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2021-27876 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 7 April 2023. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2021-27876?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 8.1, published 7 April 2023.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Veritas Backup Exec before 21.2.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2021-27876?** 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-2021-27876 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2021-27876?** Check whether you run Veritas Backup Exec Agent. 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

- Veritas Backup Exec before 21.2

## Timeline

- 2021-03-01: disclosed: NVD Published Date
- 2023-04-07: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
- 2023-04-28: other: Due date for remediation per CISA KEV catalog

## Related threats

- [Veritas Backup Exec Agent Command Execution Vulnerability](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2021-27878-veritas-backup-exec-agent-command-execution-vulnerability)
- [Veritas Backup Exec Agent Improper Authentication Vulnerability](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2021-27877-veritas-backup-exec-agent-improper-authentication-vulnerability)