# CVE-2021-3223: Node-RED-Dashboard - Path Traversal

> Live exploitation tracking for CVE-2021-3223 by the CrowdSec Live Exploit Tracker, built from real-world attack data crowdsourced from CrowdSec's global network.

Page: https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2021-3223

## Key facts

- **Exploitation phase:** Limited Exploitation. The vulnerability is known but shows very limited attacker interest or exploitation activity.
- **CVSS score:** 7.5
- **Public exploit available:** Yes
- **Affected products:** Node-RED-Dashboard
- **Weaknesses:** CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal'))
- **Tags:** nodejs, web_application

## Description

Node-RED-Dashboard before 2.26.2 allows ui_base/js/..%2f directory traversal to read files.

## CrowdSec analysis

[CVE-2021-3223](https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/vulnerability/CVE-2021-3223) is a directory traversal vulnerability in Node-RED-Dashboard versions prior to 2.26.2, which allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files on the server by exploiting crafted requests to the ui_base/js/..%2f path. This flaw could be leveraged to access sensitive information and potentially aid in further attacks against the affected system.

CrowdSec has been tracking this vulnerability and its exploits since 15th of May 2026.

CrowdSec network observations suggest that most exploitation of CVE-2021-3223 involves focused reconnaissance to identify viable targets. Attackers typically tailor their campaigns based on system exposure and configuration. It is unlikely that a given attack is accidental.
Telemetry from the CrowdSec network also shows that exploitation activity for CVE-2021-3223 remains steady week-over-week. Attack volumes are consistent with long-term trends, indicating sustained interest from threat actors. CVE-2021-3223 continues to be an active part of the threat landscape and will likely remain this way for the forseeable future.

Attackers exploit this vulnerability by sending requests to URLs containing `/ui_base/js/..%2f` with encoded directory traversal sequences, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive files such as `/etc/passwd` or `settings.js` on Node-RED Dashboard instances.

## Timeline

- 2021-01-26: CVE Published. CVE-2021-3223 is published to NVD.
- 2026-05-15: Rule Released. CrowdSec releases a rule to detect CVE-2021-3223 exploitation attempts against the CrowdSec Network.
- 2026-05-18: CrowdSec First Seen. CrowdSec observes in-the-wild exploitation of CVE-2021-3223 for the first time.

## References

- https://github.com/node-red/node-red-dashboard/issues/669
- https://github.com/node-red/node-red-dashboard/releases/tag/2.26.2
- https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2021/CVE-2021-3223.yaml

## Live exploitation data

The [Live Exploit Tracker page](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2021-3223) follows observed exploitation activity for CVE-2021-3223. [Request an API key](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/request-api-key) for full access to its exploitation timeline, attacking IP addresses and blocklists.