CVE-2021-23881 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A stored cross-site scripting vulnerability in McAfee Endpoint Security (ENS) prior to version 10.7.0 February 2021 Update allows unauthorized script execution through a browser block page triggered by an ENS ePO administrator.

Understanding CVE-2021-23881

This CVE highlights a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that could be exploited by an attacker to run malicious scripts on affected systems.

What is CVE-2021-23881?

CVE-2021-23881 is a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability found in the ePO extension of McAfee Endpoint Security (ENS) versions prior to 10.7.0 February 2021 Update. This flaw enables an ENS ePO administrator to inject a script into a policy event, which executes when a local non-administrator user activates the policy.

The Impact of CVE-2021-23881

With a CVSS base score of 4.8 (Medium Severity), this vulnerability requires high privileges, network interaction, and user interaction for exploitation. Although the impact on confidentiality and integrity is low, it can lead to unauthorized script execution.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-23881

This section delves into the specific technical aspects of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows an ENS ePO administrator to add a script to a policy event triggering its execution through a browser block page.

Affected Systems and Versions

McAfee Endpoint Security (ENS) versions below 10.7.0 February 2021 Update are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by manipulating policy events to run malicious scripts on target systems.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard systems from CVE-2021-23881, immediate steps should be taken to mitigate the risk and prevent exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Ensure that McAfee Endpoint Security (ENS) is updated to version 10.7.0 February 2021 or newer to block potential script injection attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update security patches and conduct security awareness training to prevent such vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates provided by McAfee to eliminate the stored cross-site scripting vulnerability in McAfee ENS.