CVE-2021-3051 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2021-3051 impacting Cortex XSOAR due to an authentication bypass vulnerability. Understand the risks, affected versions, and mitigation steps to secure your systems.
An in-depth look into the vulnerability impacting Cortex XSOAR due to improper verification in SAML authentication.
Understanding CVE-2021-3051
This CVE highlights a critical security issue present in Cortex XSOAR that could allow unauthorized access to protected resources.
What is CVE-2021-3051?
The vulnerability arises from an improper verification of cryptographic signatures in Cortex XSOAR's SAML authentication process, enabling network-based attackers to bypass authentication and perform unauthorized actions on the server.
The Impact of CVE-2021-3051
With a CVSS base score of 8.1, the vulnerability poses a high risk to confidentiality, integrity, and availability, particularly for Cortex XSOAR versions earlier than specified build numbers.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-3051
This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability including its description, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers with specific knowledge of the Cortex XSOAR instance to access protected resources and execute unauthorized actions.
Affected Systems and Versions
Cortex XSOAR versions 5.5.0, 6.0.2, 6.1.0, and 6.2.0 builds earlier than specific build numbers are affected by this vulnerability.
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability can be exploited by attackers with network access to the Cortex XSOAR instance, gaining unauthorized control over the server.
Mitigation and Prevention
This section outlines the necessary steps to mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2021-3051 and prevent potential exploitation.
Immediate Steps to Take
Organizations are advised to update their Cortex XSOAR instances to the specified build numbers or later to patch the vulnerability.
Long-Term Security Practices
Implementing strict network access controls and disabling SAML authentication integration can help prevent unauthorized access to Cortex XSOAR servers.
Patching and Updates
Palo Alto Networks has released fixes for this vulnerability in the form of updated builds for the affected Cortex XSOAR versions.