CVE-2021-27741 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2021-27741, a critical security vulnerability in HCL Commerce Management Center enabling XML external entity (XXE) injection. Find out the impact, affected versions, and mitigation steps.
This article provides detailed information about CVE-2021-27741, a security vulnerability identified in HCL Commerce Management Center allowing XML external entity (XXE) injection.
Understanding CVE-2021-27741
This section aims to clarify the nature and impact of the CVE-2021-27741 vulnerability.
What is CVE-2021-27741?
The CVE-2021-27741 vulnerability involves a security issue in HCL Commerce Management Center that enables XML external entity (XXE) injection, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information.
The Impact of CVE-2021-27741
The impact of this vulnerability could allow malicious actors to manipulate XML inputs, leading to data leaks, server-side request forgery (SSRF), or remote code execution (RCE) attacks.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-27741
This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE-2021-27741 vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The security flaw in HCL Commerce Management Center permits threat actors to inject malicious XML entities, exploiting the application's XML parser and potentially compromising the system.
Affected Systems and Versions
Affected systems include Commerce versions 8.0.4.0 to 8.0.4.26, 9.0.1.0 to 9.0.1.15, and 9.1 to 9.1.5. Users of these versions are at risk of exploitation if the necessary patches are not applied.
Exploitation Mechanism
Exploiting CVE-2021-27741 involves crafting malicious XML payloads that exploit the XXE vulnerability within HCL Commerce Management Center, allowing attackers to read arbitrary files, conduct SSRF attacks, or possibly achieve RCE.
Mitigation and Prevention
This section outlines steps to mitigate the CVE-2021-27741 vulnerability and prevent potential breaches.
Immediate Steps to Take
Immediately update HCL Commerce to the latest patched version, apply security updates, and restrict access to the affected systems to authorized personnel only.
Long-Term Security Practices
Implement secure coding practices, audit system configurations regularly, conduct security training for developers, and stay informed about security best practices.
Patching and Updates
Regularly monitor security advisories from HCL, apply patches promptly, and establish a robust incident response plan to address future vulnerabilities effectively.