CVE-2021-3524 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies
Learn about CVE-2021-3524, a vulnerability in Red Hat Ceph Storage RadosGW allowing HTTP header injections, impacting versions before 14.2.21. Find mitigation steps and update details here.
A flaw was found in the Red Hat Ceph Storage RadosGW (Ceph Object Gateway) in versions before 14.2.21 that allows injection of HTTP headers via a CORS ExposeHeader tag, leading to header injection in the response when a CORS request is made. Despite a previous bug fix for CVE-2020-10753, a new flaw was created due to not considering the use of \r as a header separator.
Understanding CVE-2021-3524
This section provides insights into the vulnerability, its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.
What is CVE-2021-3524?
The CVE-2021-3524 vulnerability in Red Hat Ceph Storage RadosGW allows malicious actors to inject HTTP headers, leading to potential security risks.
The Impact of CVE-2021-3524
The vulnerability allows for header injection in the response to CORS requests, potentially enabling attackers to manipulate server responses and conduct further attacks.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-3524
The technical aspects of the vulnerability, affected systems, and exploitation methods are highlighted below.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability arises from the injection of HTTP headers via a CORS ExposeHeader tag in Red Hat Ceph Storage RadosGW, versions prior to 14.2.21.
Affected Systems and Versions
The flaw affects Ceph Object Gateway version 14.2.21 and earlier releases, exposing systems to potential header injection attacks.
Exploitation Mechanism
In the CORS configuration file, a newline character in the ExposeHeader tag can be exploited to generate header injections in the server response, creating a security loophole.
Mitigation and Prevention
This section outlines the steps to mitigate the CVE-2021-3524 vulnerability and enhance overall system security.
Immediate Steps to Take
Users and administrators of Red Hat Ceph Storage RadosGW are advised to update to version 14.2.21 or later to mitigate the vulnerability. Additionally, review and secure CORS configurations to prevent header injections.
Long-Term Security Practices
Regularly monitor and apply security updates, conduct security assessments, and adhere to best practices in CORS configuration and management for enhanced system security.
Patching and Updates
Stay informed about security advisories from vendors like Red Hat, and promptly apply patches and updates to address known vulnerabilities in Ceph Object Gateway.