CVE-2021-36213: HashiCorp Consul L7 deny intention results in an allow action
Summary
CVE-2021-36213: HashiCorp Consul L7 deny intention results in an allow action. Affects github.com/hashicorp/consul versions < 1.10.1. Fixed in 1.10.1. How to fix ↓
Also tracked for
- consul · Bitnami
The same CVE-2021-36213 is tracked separately for each ecosystem and vendor. Its fix information is the same; the package and affected versions differ.
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Background
HashiCorp Consul is an open-source service mesh solution that provides a distributed, highly available, and scalable platform for service networking. It enables secure communication between services and offers features like service discovery, health checking, and load balancing. Consul is written in Go and is widely used in cloud-native environments. However, a vulnerability has been identified in Consul versions prior to 1.10.1, which can lead to a situation where a single Layer 7 (L7) deny intention with a default deny policy results in an unintended allow action.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in HashiCorp Consul allows an attacker to bypass intended access restrictions. When using the xds feature, a single L7 deny intention, which is supposed to deny access, can inadvertently allow access due to a misconfiguration. This can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive resources or services. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 7.5, indicating a high severity level. It affects Consul versions prior to 1.10.1 and Consul Enterprise.
How To Fix
Latest published version: v1.22.7 as of 22 Oct 2026
go get github.com/hashicorp/consul@v1.22.7Upgrading to it may include breaking changes; the version below is the minimum fixed release for this vulnerability.
If you need the minimum change
1.10.1
This is the first release that contains the fix.
go get github.com/hashicorp/consul@v1.10.1Tip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
There is no known workaround for this vulnerability. It is recommended to upgrade to the fixed version as soon as possible.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the vulnerability in HashiCorp Consul allows for unauthorized access due to a misconfiguration in the L7 deny intention. To mitigate this risk, it is crucial to upgrade to Consul version 1.10.1 or later. For further support and assistance with vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for github.com/hashicorp/consul →
FAQ
HashiCorp Consul is an open-source service mesh solution that provides service discovery, health checking, and load balancing for distributed systems.
This vulnerability allows an attacker to bypass access restrictions and gain unauthorized access to sensitive resources or services.
Consul versions prior to 1.10.1 and Consul Enterprise are affected by this vulnerability.
No, there is no known workaround. It is recommended to upgrade to the fixed version.
The CVSS score of this vulnerability is 7.5, indicating a high severity level.
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for github.com/hashicorp/consul.
