CVE-2021-29480 : What You Need to Know
Learn about CVE-2021-29480 affecting Ratpack versions prior to 1.9.0. Understand the impact, technical details, and mitigation steps to secure your web applications.
Ratpack is a toolkit for creating web applications. In versions prior to 1.9.0, the client side session module uses the application startup time as the signing key by default. This vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2021-29480, allows an attacker to tamper with session data if they can determine the application startup time. It is recommended to use encryption and update to Ratpack 1.9.0 where the default signing key is securely randomly generated.
Understanding CVE-2021-29480
This CVE affects Ratpack versions prior to 1.9.0 and involves the predictability of client side session signing key.
What is CVE-2021-29480?
CVE-2021-29480 highlights a vulnerability in Ratpack versions before 1.9.0 where the default signing key is highly predictable, allowing potential session data tampering by an attacker.
The Impact of CVE-2021-29480
The impact of this CVE is rated as MEDIUM with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 4.4. It has low confidentiality and integrity impacts as the default signing key is easily guessable.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-29480
This section covers the technical aspects of the CVE.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability arises from the client side session module using the application startup time as the signing key, which is easily guessable by attackers.
Affected Systems and Versions
Ratpack versions prior to 1.9.0 are affected by this vulnerability.
Exploitation Mechanism
An attacker with the knowledge of the application startup time can exploit this vulnerability to tamper with session data.
Mitigation and Prevention
To address CVE-2021-29480, follow these mitigation strategies.
Immediate Steps to Take
Update Ratpack to version 1.9.0 or later where a securely randomly generated value is used as the default signing key.
Long-Term Security Practices
Implement encryption for enhanced security and follow best practices for session management.
Patching and Updates
Regularly check for updates and apply patches to ensure your system is protected from known vulnerabilities.