CVE-2021-36471 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A Directory Traversal vulnerability in AdminLTE 3.1.0 allows remote attackers to gain escalated privilege and view sensitive information via specific URIs.

Understanding CVE-2021-36471

This CVE identifies a Directory Traversal vulnerability in AdminLTE 3.1.0 that could be exploited by remote attackers for privilege escalation and access to sensitive data.

What is CVE-2021-36471?

CVE-2021-36471 is a security vulnerability found in AdminLTE 3.1.0, enabling unauthorized users to access confidential information by exploiting specific URIs.

The Impact of CVE-2021-36471

The impact of this CVE includes the potential for attackers to gain escalated privileges within the system and view sensitive data, compromising the confidentiality and integrity of the information.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-36471

This section provides insight into the vulnerability's description, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in AdminLTE 3.1.0 allows attackers to perform Directory Traversal, leading to unauthorized access and potential privilege escalation.

Affected Systems and Versions

All instances of AdminLTE 3.1.0 are affected by this vulnerability, exposing them to exploitation by remote threat actors.

Exploitation Mechanism

Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability by manipulating specific URIs (/admin/index2.html, /admin/index3.html) to gain unauthorized access and view sensitive data.

Mitigation and Prevention

To prevent exploitation and minimize risks associated with CVE-2021-36471, immediate and long-term security practices should be implemented.

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable access to or restrict permissions for affected URIs in AdminLTE 3.1.0.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity indicating exploitation attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update AdminLTE to patched versions to address known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and remediate potential vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply the latest security patches provided by AdminLTE to mitigate the CVE-2021-36471 vulnerability and enhance overall system security.