CVE-2021-21186: Insufficient policy enforcement in QR scanning

Published Nov 28, 2020
·
Updated

Insufficient policy enforcement in QR scanning in Google Chrome on iOS prior to 89.0.4389.72 allowed an attacker who convinced the user to scan a QR code to bypass navigation restrictions via a crafted QR code.

Credit

dhirajkumarnifty

Affected Software

21 affected componentsFixes available
debian/chromium
90.0.4430.212-1~deb10u1116.0.5845.180-1~deb11u1118.0.5993.70-1~deb11u1116.0.5845.180-1~deb12u1118.0.5993.70-1~deb12u1118.0.5993.70-1
Google Chrome<89.0.4389.72
89.0.4389.72
Google Chrome<89.0.4389.72
Apple iPhone OS
Fedoraproject Fedora=32
Fedoraproject Fedora=33
Fedoraproject Fedora=34
Debian Debian Linux=10.0
All of the following
Google Chrome<89.0.4389.72
Apple iPhone OS
alpine/chromium<89.0.4389.72-r0
89.0.4389.72-r0
alpine/chromium<89.0.4389.72-r0
89.0.4389.72-r0
alpine/chromium<89.0.4389.72-r0
89.0.4389.72-r0
alpine/chromium<89.0.4389.72-r0
89.0.4389.72-r0
alpine/chromium<89.0.4389.72-r0
89.0.4389.72-r0
alpine/chromium<89.0.4389.72-r0
89.0.4389.72-r0
alpine/chromium<89.0.4389.72-r0
89.0.4389.72-r0
alpine/chromium<89.0.4389.72-r0
89.0.4389.72-r0
alpine/chromium<89.0.4389.72-r0
89.0.4389.72-r0
alpine/chromium<89.0.4389.72-r0
89.0.4389.72-r0
alpine/chromium<89.0.4389.72-r0
89.0.4389.72-r0

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade debian/chromium to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 90.0.4430.212-1~deb10u1Fixed in 116.0.5845.180-1~deb11u1Fixed in 118.0.5993.70-1~deb11u1Fixed in 116.0.5845.180-1~deb12u1Fixed in 118.0.5993.70-1~deb12u1Fixed in 118.0.5993.70-1
  2. Upgrade

    Upgrade Google Chrome (Trace Event) to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 89.0.4389.72
  3. Upgrade

    Upgrade alpine/chromium to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 89.0.4389.72-r0
  4. Upgrade

    Upgrade Google Chrome on iOS to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 89.0.4389.72

Event History

Nov 28, 2020
CVE Published
12:00 AM
Mar 9, 2021
CVE Published
via MITRE·05:46 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·05:46 PM
DescriptionWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·06:15 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Data Sourced
via OSV·06:15 PM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software

Parent advisories

This vulnerability appears in the following advisories.

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2021-21186?

CVE-2021-21186 has been classified as a moderate severity vulnerability due to insufficient policy enforcement in QR scanning.

2

How do I fix CVE-2021-21186?

To fix CVE-2021-21186, users should update Google Chrome to version 89.0.4389.72 or later.

3

What platforms are affected by CVE-2021-21186?

CVE-2021-21186 affects Google Chrome on iOS and various versions of Chromium on Debian and Fedora.

4

What type of vulnerability is CVE-2021-21186?

CVE-2021-21186 is an insufficient policy enforcement vulnerability that allows bypassing navigation restrictions.

5

Can scanning a QR code lead to exploitation of CVE-2021-21186?

Yes, an attacker could exploit CVE-2021-21186 by convincing a user to scan a crafted QR code.

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.
© 2026 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203