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Vulnerability record · CVE-2021-43833 · published 16 December 2021

CVE-2021-43833: Elabftw improper authentication vulnerability

Elabftw · Elabftw

eLabFTW is an electronic lab notebook manager for research teams. In versions prior to 4.2.0 there is a vulnerability which allows any authenticated user to gain access to arbitrary accounts by setting a specially crafted email address. This vulnerability impacts all instances that have not set an explicit email domain name allowlist. Note that whereas neither administrators nor targeted users are notified of a change, an attacker will need to control an account. The default settings require administrators to validate newly created accounts. The problem has been patched. Users should upgrade to at least version 4.2.0. For users unable to upgrade enabling an email domain allow list (from Sysconfig panel, Security tab) will completely resolve the issue.

8.8 CVSS 3.1 High EPSS 0.81% · top 44.7% CWE-287 · Improper authentication
8.8CVSS 3.1 base score, v2 6.5
0.81%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
1Affected product versions listed by NVD
4References
17 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

eLabFTW is an electronic lab notebook manager for research teams. In versions prior to 4.2.0 there is a vulnerability which allows any authenticated user to gain access to arbitrary accounts by setting a specially crafted email address. This vulnerability impacts all instances that have not set an explicit email domain name allowlist. Note that whereas neither administrators nor targeted users are notified of a change, an attacker will need to control an account. The default settings require administrators to validate newly created accounts. The problem has been patched. Users should upgrade to at least version 4.2.0. For users unable to upgrade enabling an email domain allow list (from Sysconfig panel, Security tab) will completely resolve the issue.

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected products

1 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
https://github.com/elabftw/elabftw/releases/tag/4.2.0 Release NotesThird Party Advisory
https://github.com/elabftw/elabftw/security/advisories/GHSA-v659-q2fh-v99w Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/elabftw/elabftw/releases/tag/4.2.0 Release NotesThird Party Advisory
https://github.com/elabftw/elabftw/security/advisories/GHSA-v659-q2fh-v99w Third Party Advisory

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Related vulnerabilities

Same products first, then exploited flaws of the same weakness class.

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2021-43833), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-26). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.