CVE-2021-31585 : What You Need to Know

Accellion Kiteworks before 7.3.1 allows a user with Admin privileges to escalate their privileges by generating SSH passwords that allow local access.

Understanding CVE-2021-31585

This CVE affects Accellion Kiteworks versions before 7.3.1, enabling a user with Admin privileges to escalate their access rights through SSH password generation.

What is CVE-2021-31585?

CVE-2021-31585 involves privilege escalation on Accellion Kiteworks platforms, leading to unauthorized elevation of user privileges.

The Impact of CVE-2021-31585

The vulnerability allows users to generate SSH passwords, granting them local access privileges beyond their designated Admin roles.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-31585

This section delves into the specifics of the CVE, outlining the vulnerability, affected systems, and the method of exploitation.

Vulnerability Description

Accellion Kiteworks before version 7.3.1 permits Admin users to enhance their permissions by creating SSH passwords, enabling unapproved access.

Affected Systems and Versions

Accellion Kiteworks versions prior to 7.3.1 are impacted by this vulnerability, potentially affecting user access controls.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is exploited through the generation of SSH passwords by Admin users, circumventing access restrictions.

Mitigation and Prevention

In this section, we explore the necessary steps to address and mitigate the CVE's risks.

Immediate Steps to Take

It is crucial to update Accellion Kiteworks to version 7.3.1 or above, ensuring that Admin users cannot abuse SSH password generation for privilege escalation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing least privilege access controls and regular security audits can help prevent similar privilege escalation issues.

Patching and Updates

Regularly apply security patches and updates provided by Accellion to fortify your Kiteworks installation against known vulnerabilities.