CVE-2021-33321 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A security vulnerability in Liferay Portal versions 6.2.3 through 7.3.2, and Liferay DXP before 7.3, exposes users to an enumeration attack through the forgot password feature. Learn more about the impact, technical details, and mitigation steps related to CVE-2021-33321.

Understanding CVE-2021-33321

This section dives into the specifics of the security vulnerability.

What is CVE-2021-33321?

The insecure default configuration in Liferay Portal and Liferay DXP enables malicious actors to discover user email addresses using the forgot password function.

The Impact of CVE-2021-33321

The vulnerability allows remote attackers to gather sensitive user information, leading to potential security breaches and privacy violations.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-33321

Explore the technical aspects associated with CVE-2021-33321.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw originates from the portal.property login.secure.forgot.password not being defaulted to true, facilitating email enumeration.

Affected Systems and Versions

Liferay Portal versions 6.2.3 through 7.3.2 and Liferay DXP before 7.3 are susceptible to this security issue.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exploit the insecure default setting to extract user email addresses via the forgot password functionality.

Mitigation and Prevention

Discover the steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2021-33321.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users should update the portal.property login.secure.forgot.password to true to enhance security.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement robust security protocols and educate users on secure password practices to prevent future incidents.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for patches and updates from Liferay to address this vulnerability.