CVE-2021-28164 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Eclipse Jetty versions 9.4.37.v20210219 to 9.4.38.v20210224 are affected by a vulnerability that allows requests with specific URIs to access protected resources, potentially exposing sensitive information.

Understanding CVE-2021-28164

This section provides details on the impact, technical description, affected systems, exploitation mechanism, and mitigation strategies related to CVE-2021-28164.

What is CVE-2021-28164?

In Eclipse Jetty versions 9.4.37.v20210219 to 9.4.38.v20210224, a default compliance mode allows certain types of requests to bypass security controls and access protected resources, potentially revealing sensitive information about web applications.

The Impact of CVE-2021-28164

The vulnerability in Jetty can enable attackers to retrieve files from the WEB-INF directory, leading to the exposure of sensitive information that could aid them in further exploiting the web application.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-28164

This section dives into the technical aspects of the vulnerability, including its description, affected systems, and how it can be exploited.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in Jetty allows requests containing specific URI segments to access protected resources, such as the web.xml file in the WEB-INF directory, leading to potential data exposure.

Affected Systems and Versions

Eclipse Jetty versions 9.4.37.v20210219 to 9.4.38.v20210224 are impacted by this vulnerability, potentially affecting systems that rely on these versions.

Exploitation Mechanism

By crafting requests with URIs containing %2e or %2e%2e segments, malicious actors can bypass security controls in Jetty to access and retrieve sensitive files within the WEB-INF directory.

Mitigation and Prevention

To secure systems against CVE-2021-28164, immediate steps should be taken along with implementing long-term security practices and applying necessary patches and updates.

Immediate Steps to Take

Organizations should restrict access to sensitive directories, sanitize user inputs, and monitor and log URI-based requests to detect potential exploitation attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing secure coding practices, conducting regular security assessments, and staying informed about the latest vulnerabilities can help enhance overall system security.

Patching and Updates

It is crucial to apply the latest patches and updates provided by Eclipse Foundation for Jetty to address CVE-2021-28164 and eliminate the associated security risks.