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Actively exploited

CVE-2021-43798 Grafana Path Traversal Vulnerability

Grafana contains a path traversal vulnerability that could allow access to local files.

From the CISA KEV catalogue version 2026.11.06, with Cybergen analysis. Updated 6 Nov 2026.

Our Assessment

Should You Worry?

Patch urgentlyCybergen assessment
  • CISA confirmed exploitation in the wild and added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on 9 Oct 2025.
  • Rated High severity (CVSS 7.5, scored by Vendor).
  • It has been in the catalogue for 393 days. Systems still unpatched now have almost certainly been scanned for it.
The Vulnerability

What It Is

Grafana is an open-source platform for monitoring and observability. Grafana versions 8.0.0-beta1 through 8.3.0 (except for patched versions) iss vulnerable to directory traversal, allowing access to local files. The vulnerable URL path is: `<grafana_host_url>/public/plugins//`, where is the plugin ID for any installed plugin. At no time has Grafana Cloud been vulnerable. Users are advised to upgrade to patched versions 8.0.7, 8.1.8, 8.2.7, or 8.3.1. The GitHub Security Advisory contains more information about vulnerable URL paths, mitigation, and the disclosure timeline.

Affected Versions

ProductVersions
grafana grafana>= 8.0.0, < 8.0.7
>= 8.1.0, < 8.1.8
>= 8.2.0, < 8.2.7
= 8.3.0

From the public CVE record, as supplied by the vendor. Always confirm against the vendor advisory.

From Watch to Action

What To Do Now

  1. 1

    Find it

    Search your asset inventory and external attack surface for Grafana Labs Grafana. Include cloud images, appliances and anything a supplier runs for you.

    Attack Surface Management
  2. 2

    Fix it

    Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

    Vulnerability Management
  3. 3

    Hunt for compromise

    If an affected system was reachable before you patched, assume it may have been hit. Check logs, new accounts, web shells and outbound connections from the date of exposure.

    Incident Response
  4. 4

    Prove it is fixed

    Rescan or test the system after patching. Upgrades that fail silently and forgotten secondary instances are common.

    Penetration Testing

Vendor Advisories

Regulation

The Compliance Clock

Cyber EssentialsRated high, so if it affects devices in your Cyber Essentials scope, the update must be installed within 14 days of the vendor releasing it.NIS2If exploitation causes a significant incident, essential and important entities owe their CSIRT an early warning within 24 hours and a notification within 72 hours.DORAFinancial entities must classify ICT incidents and send an initial notification for a major incident within strict deadlines, with exploited flaws a common cause.US federal (BOD 22-01)Federal civilian agencies had until 30 Oct 2025 to remediate. A sensible benchmark for everyone else.

General guidance, not legal advice. Your obligations depend on your sector, scope and jurisdiction.

Stay Ahead

More Exploited Grafana Labs Flaws

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CVE-2021-39226Grafana Authentication Bypass VulnerabilityAdded 25 Aug 2022

All 2 exploited Grafana Labs vulnerabilities

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Evidence

Sources

  1. CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue
  2. NVD: CVE-2021-43798
  3. CVE record: CVE-2021-43798
  4. FIRST EPSS
  5. grafana.com/blog/2021/12/07/grafana-8.3.1-8.2.7-8.1.8-and-8.0.7-released-with-high-severity-security
  6. github.com/grafana/grafana/security/advisories/GHSA-8pjx-jj86-j47p
  7. github.com/grafana/grafana/commit/c798c0e958d15d9cc7f27c72113d572fa58545ce
  8. packetstormsecurity.com/files/165198/Grafana-Arbitrary-File-Reading.html
  9. grafana.com/blog/2021/12/08/an-update-on-0day-cve-2021-43798-grafana-directory-traversal/
  10. packetstormsecurity.com/files/165221/Grafana-8.3.0-Directory-Traversal-Arbitrary-File-Read.html
  11. openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/12/09/2
  12. openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/12/10/4