CVE-2021-20079 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A privilege escalation vulnerability was discovered in Nessus versions 8.13.2 and earlier, allowing a Nessus administrator user to gain administrator privileges on the Nessus host.

Understanding CVE-2021-20079

This section provides insights into the impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies related to CVE-2021-20079.

What is CVE-2021-20079?

CVE-2021-20079 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability present in Nessus versions 8.13.2 and prior. It enables a Nessus administrator user to upload a malicious file, potentially leading to escalated privileges on the Nessus host.

The Impact of CVE-2021-20079

The vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker with Nessus administrator privileges to elevate their access rights, posing a significant security risk to the affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-20079

Gain insights into the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

Nessus versions 8.13.2 and earlier are susceptible to a flaw that allows an attacker to upload a specially crafted file, leading to the escalation of privileges on the Nessus host.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability impacts Nessus versions 8.13.2 and earlier, exposing systems running these versions to the risk of privilege escalation attacks.

Exploitation Mechanism

By exploiting the privilege escalation vulnerability, an attacker with administrator privileges on Nessus could potentially upload a malicious file to gain unauthorized access.

Mitigation and Prevention

Explore immediate steps and long-term practices to secure systems from CVE-2021-20079.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update Nessus to a patched version and monitor for any suspicious activities that may indicate unauthorized access.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing least privilege access, regular security assessments, and employee awareness training can enhance the overall security posture to prevent such vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates from the vendor for Nessus and ensure timely application of patches to mitigate the risk of privilege escalation attacks.