CVE-2021-41855 is one of those identifiers that pop up in databases and headlines, causing a stir among security professionals—until you take a closer look. If you’ve landed here because you’re curious about what CVE-2021-41855 is, whether you’re vulnerable, or if there’s anything you need to patch, this post is for you. We’ll break down what this CVE is (and isn’t), explain why it was rejected, and why it matters to keep track of such advisories.

What Is CVE-2021-41855?

CVE-2021-41855 was assigned as part of the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures program to potentially track a vulnerability. However, not every entry in the CVE system turns out to document a real risk. According to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) and MITRE's listing, this CVE was rejected with a clear reason: “This is unused.”

Here’s the official rejection statement

> "REJECT Reason: This candidate was withdrawn by its CNA. Further investigation showed that it was unused."

Sometimes, organizations reserve or propose a CVE for a security issue they think exists.

- After internal review or external feedback, it might turn out that the issue isn’t real, is covered elsewhere, or was created by mistake.
- In this case, the CNA (CVE Numbering Authority) withdrew the entry after deciding it wasn’t needed for any actual vulnerability.

Simply put, CVE-2021-41855 doesn’t describe a real or exploitable issue. No actual flaw, bug, or exploit scenario is associated with it.

What If You See a Security Tool Flagging CVE-2021-41855?

If a security scanner or report flags CVE-2021-41855, you can safely mark it as “false positive.” There’s no need to search for vulnerable code, apply a patch, or worry about an exploit.

Example: A Code Scanner Output

[!] Vulnerability found: CVE-2021-41855
Severity: High
Description: (none provided)
Recommendation: Check with vendor for patch.

> Reality check: There is no patch, and no issue exists. You can ignore this alert, and it’s a reminder to always double-check obscure or surprising vulnerability reports.

Exploit Details (Or, Why There Are None)

Because the CVE was unused, there is no proof-of-concept, exploit code, or technical details. If you see someone offering “exploit” code for CVE-2021-41855, that is likely misleading or even malicious.

Typical Exploit (NOT for this case!)

For illustration, here’s what an exploit snippet would typically look like for a genuine CVE (DO NOT USE THIS; IT’S GENERIC):

# This is a generic example, NOT related to CVE-2021-41855
import requests

url = 'http://example-vulnerable-site.com/api';
# Suppose POSTing this triggers a vulnerable code path in a real CVE
data = {'bad_input': "' OR '1'='1"}
response = requests.post(url, data=data)

print(response.content)

> In the case of CVE-2021-41855, such a snippet will not work because there is no vulnerable product or code.

Lessons Learned

- Always verify: Not every CVE is actionable. Check primary sources like NVD or MITRE before responding to automated alerts.
- Don’t panic: False positives and withdrawn CVEs happen often. Let your patching or incident response team know when a vulnerability is confirmed as invalid.
- Stay updated: Processes for CVE assignment and withdrawal get refined over time. Following CVE feeds helps you stay on top of actual risks.

References

- CVE-2021-41855 at NVD
- CVE-2021-41855 at MITRE
- How CVEs are assigned and rejected (CVE Process)

Final Word

CVE-2021-41855 is a good example of the checks-and-balances built into cybersecurity reporting. There are thousands of CVEs, but not every one leads to a real-world threat. Mark this one as “for reference only,” and move on to more pressing issues—your systems and your time are too valuable!

If you have any questions about other CVEs or vulnerability management, feel free to reach out in the comments. Stay safe, and keep patching the real threats!

Timeline

Published on: 02/23/2024 21:15:10 UTC
Last modified on: 09/04/2025 00:48:06 UTC