CVE-2021-30638 : Security Advisory and Response

This article discusses the Information Exposure vulnerability in Apache Tapestry and its impact, technical details, and mitigation steps.

Understanding CVE-2021-30638

This vulnerability in Apache Tapestry allows attackers to download files inside WEB-INF by using a specially-constructed URL.

What is CVE-2021-30638?

CVE-2021-30638 is an Information Exposure vulnerability in Apache Tapestry 5.4.0 and later versions, enabling attackers to access certain files through a crafted URL.

The Impact of CVE-2021-30638

The vulnerability affects Apache Tapestry versions 5.4.0 to 5.6.3, and versions 5.7.0 to 5.7.1, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-30638

This section delves into the vulnerability description, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The issue allows malicious actors to download files within WEB-INF through manipulated URLs due to incomplete fixes from a previous CVE.

Affected Systems and Versions

Apache Tapestry versions 5.4.0 to 5.6.3, as well as 5.7.0 and 5.7.1, are impacted by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this flaw by using a specially-crafted URL to retrieve sensitive files from the WEB-INF directory.

Mitigation and Prevention

In this section, we discuss the immediate actions to take and long-term security practices to mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2021-30638.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update their Apache Tapestry installations to versions 5.6.4 for 5.4.0 to 5.6.3, and 5.7.2 for 5.7.0 and 5.7.1 to address this vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Maintaining up-to-date software, conducting regular security assessments, and implementing access controls are essential for long-term security.

Patching and Updates

Regularly applying security patches and updates provided by Apache Tapestry will help prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.