CVE-2021-36551 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

TikiWiki v21.4 was found to have a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in tiki-calendar.php, enabling malicious actors to run arbitrary web scripts or HTML through a crafted payload in the Add Event module.

Understanding CVE-2021-36551

This section will delve into the details of the CVE-2021-36551 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2021-36551?

CVE-2021-36551 is a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability discovered in TikiWiki v21.4, specifically in the tiki-calendar.php component. It allows attackers to execute malicious scripts or HTML by injecting a specially crafted payload.

The Impact of CVE-2021-36551

The exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized execution of scripts on the affected website, potentially compromising user data and website integrity.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-36551

This section will provide technical insights into CVE-2021-36551.

Vulnerability Description

The XSS flaw in TikiWiki v21.4's tiki-calendar.php component permits threat actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML by utilizing a customized payload within the Add Event module.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects TikiWiki v21.4, exposing all systems running this version to the risk of XSS attacks through the identified component.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit CVE-2021-36551 by injecting malicious code into the affected component, allowing them to perform various actions such as stealing sensitive information or redirecting users to malicious websites.

Mitigation and Prevention

In this section, we will discuss the steps to mitigate and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2021-36551.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update their TikiWiki installation to a patched version that addresses the XSS vulnerability. Additionally, input validation and output encoding should be implemented to prevent script injection.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regular security audits, code reviews, and user input sanitization are crucial for maintaining a secure web application environment and preventing XSS vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security patches released by TikiWiki and promptly apply them to ensure that known vulnerabilities, including CVE-2021-36551, are mitigated.