CVE-2021-21422 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis
Learn about the XSS vulnerability in mongo-express (CVE-2021-21422), its impact, technical details, affected systems, exploitation mechanism, and mitigation steps to enhance security.
Understanding CVE-2021-21422
This CVE-2021-21422 involves an XSS vulnerability in mongo-express, a web-based MongoDB admin interface written with Node.js and Express.
What is CVE-2021-21422?
The CVE-2021-21422 vulnerability in mongo-express allows unauthorized users to execute XSS attacks by injecting malicious payloads into data cells, potentially compromising data integrity and confidentiality.
The Impact of CVE-2021-21422
The impact of this vulnerability is rated as HIGH, with a CVSS base score of 8.1. It affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system, posing a significant risk to the security of MongoDB admin interfaces.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-21422
This section provides in-depth technical details of the XSS vulnerability in mongo-express.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of input during web page generation, leading to cross-site scripting attacks. Attackers can exploit this flaw to execute malicious scripts in the context of the user's browser.
Affected Systems and Versions
The vulnerability affects versions of mongo-express prior to v1.0.0-alpha.4, making systems running these versions susceptible to XSS attacks.
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit the XSS vulnerability by injecting specially crafted payloads into data cells that are not properly sanitized. This can lead to unauthorized script execution and potential data exfiltration.
Mitigation and Prevention
To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-21422, immediate actions should be taken to enhance the security of mongo-express instances.
Immediate Steps to Take
Users are advised to update mongo-express to version v1.0.0-alpha.4 or newer to address the XSS vulnerability. It is crucial to sanitize user input and implement proper security mechanisms to prevent XSS attacks.
Long-Term Security Practices
Implementing secure coding practices, input validation, and output encoding can help prevent XSS vulnerabilities. Regular security audits and threat assessments are essential to ensure the ongoing security of web-based applications.
Patching and Updates
Stay informed about security advisories and updates from the mongo-express project. Promptly apply patches and updates to address known vulnerabilities and enhance the overall security posture of the system.