CVE-2021-29459 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A critical Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability, CVE-2021-29459, impacting XWiki Platform versions prior to 12.6.3 and 12.8 has been discovered. This vulnerability allows attackers to persistently inject scripts, posing a high risk to confidentiality and integrity.

Understanding CVE-2021-29459

This section provides a detailed overview of what CVE-2021-29459 is, its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2021-29459?

XWiki Platform, a versatile wiki platform, is susceptible to persistent script injection before versions 12.6.3 and 12.8. This allows unregistered users to fill in text fields and registered users to input personal data. Upgrading to versions 12.6.3 and 12.8 is the recommended solution.

The Impact of CVE-2021-29459

With a CVSS base score of 9.6, this vulnerability has a critical severity level. It can be exploited over a network with low complexity requirements, impacting confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No user privileges are needed for exploitation.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-29459

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

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows for persistent script injection in XWiki versions prior to 12.6.3 and 12.8, enabling unauthorized users to input harmful scripts.

Affected Systems and Versions

XWiki Platform versions below 12.6.3 and 12.8 are vulnerable to this attack.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability remotely over a network without requiring any specific user privileges.

Mitigation and Prevention

Here are some crucial steps to address and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2021-29459.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users should upgrade their XWiki Platform to versions 12.6.3 or 12.8 to mitigate the risk of script injection.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing robust input validation and security mechanisms can help prevent future XSS attacks.

Patching and Updates

Regularly updating XWiki Platform to the latest versions is essential to ensure protection against known vulnerabilities.