CVE-2021-41164: CKEditor4 is an open source WYSIWYG HTML editor

Q: How do I fix CVE-2021-41164?

ckeditor: upgrade to 4.17.0; drupal: upgrade to 8.9.20, 9.1.14, 9.2.9; banking apis: upgrade to newer than 18.3. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2021-41164 being exploited?

CVE-2021-41164 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

Q: What does CVE-2021-41164 affect?

CVE-2021-41164 affects ckeditor, drupal, banking apis. Severity is high (CVSS 8.2). CKEditor4 is an open source WYSIWYG HTML editor. In affected versions a vulnerability has been discovered in the Advanced Content Filter (ACF) module and may affect all plugins used by CKEditor 4. The vulnerability allowed to inject malform

This month

HIGH 8.2UPGRADEUPGRADEUPGRADE

CVE-2021-41164 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 8.2) affecting ckeditor, drupal, banking apis. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

CKEditor4 is an open source WYSIWYG HTML editor. In affected versions a vulnerability has been discovered in the Advanced Content Filter (ACF) module and may affect all plugins used by CKEditor 4. The vulnerability allowed to inject malformed HTML bypassing content sanitization, which could result in executing JavaScript code. It affects all users using the CKEditor 4 at version < 4.17.0. The problem has been recognized and patched. The fix will

Why this priority

High severity

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	8.2 (High)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	Low
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	1.3% (top 29%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-79
Published	2021-11-17
Last modified	2026-08-25

Publisher (CNA): GitHub, Inc. · Vendor: ckeditor · drupal · oracle

Last updated 2026-08-25 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2021-11-17 19:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-08-25 16:28 UTCUpdated Record last modified

ckeditor ckeditor UPGRADE

Affected: >= 4.0 and < 4.17.0

Fixed in: 4.17.0

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 4.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy ckeditor || rpm -q ckeditor || ckeditor --version

2. UPGRADE to 4.17.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade ckeditor

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade ckeditor

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 4.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison ckeditor sudo apt install ckeditor=<VERSION_BEFORE_4.0> sudo apt-mark hold ckeditor

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list ckeditor sudo dnf downgrade ckeditor-<VERSION_BEFORE_4.0> sudo dnf versionlock add ckeditor

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

drupal drupal UPGRADE

Affected: >= 8.9.0 and < 8.9.20 · >= 9.1.0 and < 9.1.14 · >= 9.2.0 and < 9.2.9

Fixed in: 8.9.20, 9.1.14, 9.2.9

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 8.9.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy drupal || rpm -q drupal || drupal --version

2. UPGRADE to 8.9.20 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade drupal

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade drupal

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 8.9.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison drupal sudo apt install drupal=<VERSION_BEFORE_8.9.0> sudo apt-mark hold drupal

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list drupal sudo dnf downgrade drupal-<VERSION_BEFORE_8.9.0> sudo dnf versionlock add drupal

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

oracle banking apis UPGRADE

Affected: >= 18.1 and <= 18.3 · 19.1 · 19.2 · 20.1 · 21.1

Fixed in: newer than 18.3

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 18.1

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy banking-apis || rpm -q banking-apis || banking-apis --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 18.3 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade banking-apis

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade banking-apis

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 18.1 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison banking-apis sudo apt install banking-apis=<VERSION_BEFORE_18.1> sudo apt-mark hold banking-apis

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list banking-apis sudo dnf downgrade banking-apis-<VERSION_BEFORE_18.1> sudo dnf versionlock add banking-apis

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

oracle banking digital experience UPGRADE

Affected: >= 18.1 and <= 18.3 · 19.1 · 19.2 · 20.1 · 21.1

Fixed in: newer than 18.3

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 18.1

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy banking-digital-experience || rpm -q banking-digital-experience || banking-digital-experience --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 18.3 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade banking-digital-experience

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade banking-digital-experience

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 18.1 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison banking-digital-experience sudo apt install banking-digital-experience=<VERSION_BEFORE_18.1> sudo apt-mark hold banking-digital-experience

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list banking-digital-experience sudo dnf downgrade banking-digital-experience-<VERSION_BEFORE_18.1> sudo dnf versionlock add banking-digital-experience

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

oracle agile product lifecycle management DOWNGRADE

Affected: 9.3.6

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 9.3.6

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy agile-product-lifecycle-management || rpm -q agile-product-lifecycle-management || agile-product-lifecycle-management --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 9.3.6 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison agile-product-lifecycle-management sudo apt install agile-product-lifecycle-management=<VERSION_BEFORE_9.3.6> sudo apt-mark hold agile-product-lifecycle-management

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list agile-product-lifecycle-management sudo dnf downgrade agile-product-lifecycle-management-<VERSION_BEFORE_9.3.6> sudo dnf versionlock add agile-product-lifecycle-management

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

oracle application express UPGRADE

Affected: < 22.1

Fixed in: 22.1

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy application-express || rpm -q application-express || application-express --version

2. UPGRADE to 22.1 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade application-express

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade application-express

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2021-41164?

ckeditor: upgrade to 4.17.0; drupal: upgrade to 8.9.20, 9.1.14, 9.2.9; banking apis: upgrade to newer than 18.3. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2021-41164 being exploited?

CVE-2021-41164 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2021-41164 affect?

CVE-2021-41164 affects ckeditor, drupal, banking apis. Severity is high (CVSS 8.2). CKEditor4 is an open source WYSIWYG HTML editor. In affected versions a vulnerability has been discovered in the Advanced Content Filter (ACF) module and may affect all plugins used by CKEditor 4. The vulnerability allowed to inject malform

How urgent is CVE-2021-41164?

Priority 47/100. High severity

Software pages

Drupal vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

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CVE-2020-27193 MEDIUM 6.1 DOWNGRADE DOWNGRADE A cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Color Dialog plugin for CKEditor 4.15.0 allows remote attack
CVE-2023-31541 CRITICAL 9.8 DOWNGRADE A unrestricted file upload vulnerability was discovered in the ‘Browse and upload images’ feature of the CKEdi
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References

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