CVE-2021-23258 : Security Advisory and Response
Learn about CVE-2021-23258, Spring SPEL Expression Language Injection vulnerability allowing RCE by authenticated users in Crafter CMS. Discover impact, affected versions, and mitigation steps.
Spring SPEL Expression Language Injection is a vulnerability that allows authenticated users with Administrator or Developer roles to execute OS commands by SPEL Expression in Spring beans. This can lead to remote code execution (RCE) due to the lack of security restrictions in the SPEL Expression.
Understanding CVE-2021-23258
This section provides an overview of the CVE-2021-23258 vulnerability.
What is CVE-2021-23258?
The CVE-2021-23258 vulnerability, also known as Spring SPEL Expression Language Injection, allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands remotely by exploiting the lack of security restrictions in the SPEL Expression.
The Impact of CVE-2021-23258
The impact of CVE-2021-23258 is rated as MEDIUM with a base score of 4.2. It has a high availability impact, requiring high privileges for exploitation, and user interaction is required.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-23258
This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE-2021-23258 vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
Authenticated users with Administrator or Developer roles can execute OS commands using SPEL Expression in Spring beans, leading to remote code execution.
Affected Systems and Versions
The vulnerability affects Crafter CMS versions less than 3.1.12, specifically version 3.1 with a custom version type.
Exploitation Mechanism
Attack complexity is high, leveraging a network-based attack vector. The vulnerability has a high availability impact, requiring high privileges for successful exploitation.
Mitigation and Prevention
This section outlines the steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2021-23258.
Immediate Steps to Take
Immediately update Crafter CMS to version 3.1.12 or higher to prevent exploitation of the vulnerability. Ensure that only trusted users have Administrator or Developer roles.
Long-Term Security Practices
Regularly review and update access control policies, restrict access to sensitive systems, and conduct security awareness training to prevent unauthorized access and execution.
Patching and Updates
Stay informed about security updates for Crafter CMS and apply patches promptly to protect against known vulnerabilities.