If you’ve stumbled on CVE-2021-33109 while researching software vulnerabilities, you might have noticed something odd: there’s not much information, and the entry is listed as "REJECTED" or "unused." This article explains what happens when a CVE entry, like CVE-2021-33109, is created but then rejected, why that matters, and what it means for you as a developer or security professional.

What is a CVE, Anyway?

A CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) is simply an ID that gets assigned to a publicly known cybersecurity issue. Each CVE is meant to represent a unique, factual vulnerability that needs fixing.

Original source:
- MITRE CVE List

CVE-ID: CVE-2021-33109

- Status: REJECTED / UNUSED

Reason: This is unused.

What does this mean? This CVE was assigned a number, but was never actually used for a real security issue. The official entry reads:

CVE-2021-33109 has been rejected.
Reason: This candidate has been withdrawn by its submitter. It was originally intended for use, but there is no good evidence that it actually describes a distinct vulnerability.

You can see it yourself here:
- CVE-2021-33109 at cve.mitre.org

Sometimes, mistakes happen! Here are a few reasons a CVE might end up "unused" or rejected

- False alarm: Someone thought they found a bug, but it turns out to be a configuration issue, not a security problem.

This is what a typical rejected CVE entry looks like

{
  "cve-id": "CVE-2021-33109",
  "status": "REJECTED",
  "description": "This candidate has been withdrawn by its submitter. It was originally intended for use, but there is no good evidence that it actually describes a distinct vulnerability."
}

Exploit Details and Impact

Because the CVE was never used, there is no exploit code, and absolutely no risk to any product. No need for patches, no reason to worry.

Don’t Panic — a rejected CVE is a non-issue.

2. Check the Official Source — always verify with sites like cve.mitre.org or NVD for up-to-date status.

Why Is The CVE Listed At All?

CVE numbers are assigned early, to track potential issues. If a problem doesn’t pan out, the entry stays in the database but is clearly marked as REJECTED, keeping the record straight and avoiding confusion later on if the number comes up again.

- MITRE CVE-2021-33109
- How CVE Process Works
- What a Rejected CVE Means (cve.org)

Conclusion

CVE-2021-33109 is a reminder that not every scary-sounding number indicates real-world risk. If you see "rejected" or "unused," it’s just a number that never turned into a problem. Always check trusted sources, and skip any extra worry over these harmless placeholders.

If you’ve encountered a different, active CVE, those are the ones to pay attention to — and you can use the same resources above to keep track of what’s real and what’s not!

Timeline

Published on: 02/23/2024 21:15:08 UTC
Last modified on: 09/04/2025 00:40:32 UTC