CVE-2021-23885 : What You Need to Know

A privilege escalation vulnerability in McAfee Web Gateway (MWG) prior to version 9.2.8 allows authenticated users to gain elevated privileges through the User Interface.

Understanding CVE-2021-23885

This CVE relates to a privilege escalation vulnerability found in McAfee Web Gateway (MWG) before version 9.2.8.

What is CVE-2021-23885?

CVE-2021-23885 is a critical vulnerability in McAfee Web Gateway that enables authenticated users to escalate their privileges through incorrect user input manipulation in the troubleshooting page.

The Impact of CVE-2021-23885

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as critical with a CVSS base score of 9.0. It can result in high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts to affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-23885

This section covers specific technical details of the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows an authenticated user to execute commands on the appliance by exploiting insufficient input validation in the User Interface.

Affected Systems and Versions

McAfee Web Gateway (MWG) versions prior to 9.2.8 are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with authenticated access can use the User Interface to manipulate user input and execute unauthorized commands on the appliance.

Mitigation and Prevention

To protect your systems from CVE-2021-23885, consider the following measures:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update McAfee Web Gateway to version 9.2.8 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor user access and behavior on the troubleshooting page to detect any suspicious activity.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update user permissions and access levels to minimize the risk of privilege escalation attacks.
Educate users on safe practices regarding software and system access.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates from McAfee and promptly apply patches to secure your systems against known vulnerabilities.