CVE-2021-21363 : Security Advisory and Response

A critical vulnerability, CVE-2021-21363, has been identified in the

swagger-codegen

tool. This vulnerability allows a local attacker to escalate privileges on Unix-like systems by manipulating the shared temporary directory. By exploiting this flaw, an attacker can control the code execution on the affected system.

Understanding CVE-2021-21363

This section provides an in-depth analysis of the CVE-2021-21363 vulnerability affecting

swagger-codegen

.

What is CVE-2021-21363?

The CVE-2021-21363 vulnerability in

swagger-codegen

prior to version 2.4.19 enables a local user to gain elevated privileges on Unix-like systems by tampering with the shared temporary directory.

The Impact of CVE-2021-21363

The impact of CVE-2021-21363 is considered medium, with a base score of 5.3. It poses a risk of local privilege escalation, allowing an attacker to control code execution on the compromised system.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-21363

Explore the technical aspects associated with CVE-2021-21363 to understand its implications and potential risks.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from the shared temporary directory in

swagger-codegen

versions prior to 2.4.19, allowing an attacker to append code to the

outputFolder

and control its execution.

Affected Systems and Versions

Systems running

swagger-codegen

versions below 2.4.19 on Unix-like environments are vulnerable to exploitation through this privilege escalation flaw.

Exploitation Mechanism

Local attackers can race ahead to create temporary subdirectories within the shared directory, leading to unauthorized code execution and privilege escalation.

Mitigation and Prevention

Discover effective strategies to mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2021-21363 and prevent its exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update

swagger-codegen

to version 2.4.19 to patch the vulnerability and prevent potential privilege escalation attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strict access controls and directory permissions on shared system resources to limit the exposure to such privilege escalation vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Regularly monitor for security patches and updates for

swagger-codegen

to stay protected against known vulnerabilities.