CVE-2021-27911 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2021-27911, an XSS vulnerability in Mautic versions before 3.3.4/4.0.0. Understand the impact, technical details, and mitigation steps to secure your systems.
A detailed article outlining the XSS vulnerability in Mautic versions before 3.3.4/4.0.0 that allows attackers to execute malicious scripts through the contact's first or last name.
Understanding CVE-2021-27911
This CVE describes a high-severity XSS vulnerability in Mautic, affecting versions prior to 3.3.4 and 4.0.0. The vulnerability enables attackers to execute malicious scripts through a specific user interaction.
What is CVE-2021-27911?
Mautic versions before 3.3.4/4.0.0 are vulnerable to an inline JS XSS attack that occurs when a user views a contact's details page and interacts with certain interface elements, specifically the Campaigns button.
The Impact of CVE-2021-27911
The XSS vulnerability poses a high risk, impacting confidentiality, integrity, and availability. It allows threat actors to execute arbitrary scripts using the contact's first or last name, obtained from various sources like UI, API, or forms.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-27911
This section covers specific technical details related to the CVE.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability enables an attacker to inject and execute malicious JavaScript code through the contact's first or last name on Mautic's contact details page.
Affected Systems and Versions
Mautic versions prior to 3.3.4 and 4.0.0 are affected by this XSS vulnerability.
Exploitation Mechanism
The XSS attack is triggered when a user hovers over the Campaigns button after viewing a contact's details page, leading to the execution of malicious scripts.
Mitigation and Prevention
Learn how to protect your systems from this vulnerability.
Immediate Steps to Take
Users are advised to update their Mautic installations to versions 3.3.4 or 4.0.0 to mitigate the XSS risk. Additionally, validate and sanitize user inputs to prevent XSS attacks.
Long-Term Security Practices
Implement rigorous input validation, output encoding, and security mechanisms to prevent XSS vulnerabilities in web applications.
Patching and Updates
Regularly apply security patches and updates provided by Mautic to address known vulnerabilities.