CVE-2021-33072 - A Closer Look at an “Unused” Vulnerability (Rejected)

Security vulnerabilities are catalogued with identifiers like CVE-2021-33072, letting researchers, companies, and users quickly reference and learn about flaws. But not every CVE points to an active or dangerous issue. Sometimes, vulnerabilities are reported, reviewed, and then rejected or marked as *“unused”*—essentially, never becoming a real-world threat.

In this article, let’s break down what happened with CVE-2021-33072, why it’s labeled as “unused,” what the rejection means for everyone, and cover practical points around CVEs and their status codes. We'll also look at what you won’t find: exploits, code samples, or patch requirements. By the end, you’ll see the important role of CVE transparency—even for non-issues.

What does CVE-2021-33072 Say?

When you look up CVE-2021-33072 in the National Vulnerability Database or MITRE’s CVE website, you’ll see something like:

> REJECTED
>
> This candidate was withdrawn by its requester. This CVE ID is unused and should not be associated with any vulnerability.

What does this mean?

It simply means that the identifier *was reserved* in 2021 for a possible new security bug, but later, it was decided that there was no actual vulnerability, so the entry was marked as “REJECTED.”

Duplicate Report: Two researchers may file for CVEs for the same issue; only one is needed.

2. Incorrect Analysis: Sometimes after review, the reported behavior is intended, or isn’t exploitable.
3. Requester Withdrawal: The original submitter realizes there’s no real issue and asks for retraction.
4. Other Admin Decisions: The CVE assignment team may find the report out of scope or not qualifying.

Here's what a typical rejected CVE record looks like (in JSON for reference)

{
  "CVE_data_meta": {
    "ID": "CVE-2021-33072",
    "ASSIGNER": "cve@mitre.org",
    "STATE": "REJECT"
  },
  "description": {
    "description_data": [
      {
        "lang": "eng",
        "value": " REJECT  This candidate was withdrawn by its requester. This CVE ID is unused and should not be associated with any vulnerability."
      }
    ]
  }
}

Why Did CVE-2021-33072 Get Rejected?

For this specific entry, all public resources—which you can see at NVD’s record—say:

> Rejected Reason: This is unused.

There's no exploit code, no affected product, and no way to “trigger” an attack. Essentially, this identifier is now a placeholder so there’s no confusion about its status.

What Should Developers and Security Teams Do?

You do not need to patch or act on CVE-2021-33072. It’s safe to ignore. If you see this CVE referenced in any report, it likely means an error or a misunderstanding.

Double Check CVEs: Not all are active—some may be unused or rejected.

- Keep Clear Records: Always check the state (“REJECT”, “DISPUTED”, etc.) on official databases before acting.
- Update Threat Scanning Tools: Ensure your vulnerability scanners don’t alarm you on rejected or non-existent CVEs.

Where Can You Search CVE Status?

- NVD (National Vulnerability Database)
- MITRE CVE Record Search

If you enter CVE-2021-33072, you’ll see it is officially labeled as “REJECTED.”

What About Exploits or Proof-of-Concepts?

Because CVE-2021-33072 is unused, there are no exploits, no PoCs, no affected products, and no mitigations required.

If you see someone offering an “exploit” or “patch” for this, treat it with great skepticism—it may be a scam, mistake, or misunderstand what the CVE means.

Here’s a sample *do-nothing* as a tongue-in-cheek exploit

# CVE-2021-33072: This does nothing, because the CVE is unused!
def exploit():
    pass

exploit()

The Takeaway: Why Even Track “Unused” CVEs?

Tracking and clearly marking unused or rejected CVEs prevents confusion, stops unnecessary panic or workload, and helps keep vulnerability records accurate and trustworthy.

If you’re researching or securing software, always check the real-time status of any CVEs before acting.

Reference Links

- NVD Record for CVE-2021-33072
- MITRE CVE Record
- Understanding CVE States (MITRE)
- How CVEs Get Rejected

Final Word

CVE-2021-33072 is a non-issue, officially unused—there’s no bug to worry about. But knowing how to spot and verify the status of CVEs is a key part of smart cybersecurity and software management.

Always go straight to the source, check current records, and don’t let placeholder entries cause panic or busy work!


*Written exclusively for educational purposes; no technical action needed for this CVE.*

Timeline

Published on: 02/23/2024 21:15:08 UTC
Last modified on: 02/26/2025 06:26:20 UTC