CVE-2021-23331 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A detailed overview of CVE-2021-23331 affecting package com.squareup:connect.

Understanding CVE-2021-23331

This vulnerability impacts all versions of the com.squareup:connect package, allowing unauthorized access to downloaded files.

What is CVE-2021-23331?

The vulnerability stems from incorrect file permissions during file creation, leading to potential exposure of downloaded files to other users on the system.

The Impact of CVE-2021-23331

With a CVSS base score of 4.4, this medium-severity vulnerability can compromise data confidentiality by making downloaded files visible to unauthorized users.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-23331

A closer look at the vulnerability, affected systems, and exploitation methods.

Vulnerability Description

The issue lies in creating temporary files with incorrect permissions, resulting in cross-user visibility of downloaded contents.

Affected Systems and Versions

All versions of the com.squareup:connect package are affected, where the method

prepareDownloadFile

creates vulnerable temporary files.

Exploitation Mechanism

By leveraging the shared system temporary directory on Unix-like systems, an attacker can view other users' downloaded files.

Mitigation and Prevention

Exploring immediate steps and long-term security measures to address CVE-2021-23331.

Immediate Steps to Take

To mitigate the issue, set the system property

java.io.tmpdir

to a secure directory, ensuring downloaded files remain protected.

Long-Term Security Practices

As the affected SDK version is deprecated, upgrading to the latest version is recommended to prevent security risks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security patches and updates for the com.squareup:connect package to address vulnerabilities effectively.