CVE-2021-21376 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

OMERO.web before version 5.9.0 has been found to have an information exposure vulnerability, allowing various user information to be exposed. Learn more about the impact, technical details, and mitigation steps below.

Understanding CVE-2021-21376

OMERO.web, a Django-based software for managing microscopy imaging, is affected by an information exposure vulnerability that can potentially lead to confidentiality and integrity issues.

What is CVE-2021-21376?

OMERO.web versions prior to 5.9.0 load excessive user information on webclient pages, including user ID, name, and group details, posing a risk of sensitive data exposure.

The Impact of CVE-2021-21376

With a CVSS base score of 6.4, this vulnerability has a medium severity level. It has a high impact on confidentiality and integrity, with low privileges required for exploitation.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-21376

This section outlines the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The issue stems from excessive loading of user information in OMERO.web versions below 5.9.0, which is not entirely necessary for webclient functionality.

Affected Systems and Versions

OMERO.web versions prior to 5.9.0 are affected by this vulnerability, exposing user details that may lead to information disclosure.

Exploitation Mechanism

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by accessing the webclient pages and extracting the surplus user data being loaded.

Mitigation and Prevention

Discover the immediate steps to take, long-term security practices, and the importance of patching and updates.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users of affected versions are advised to update to version 5.9.0 to prevent further exposure of unnecessary user details.

Long-Term Security Practices

Adopting a least privilege access policy and regularly reviewing access controls can minimize the risk of information exposure in the long term.

Patching and Updates

Stay vigilant for security advisories and promptly apply patches and updates from the official OMERO.web sources to address vulnerabilities.