CVE-2021-38295 : What You Need to Know
Discover the details of CVE-2021-38295, a privilege escalation vulnerability affecting Apache CouchDB and IBM Cloudant. Learn about the impact, affected versions, and mitigation steps.
This CVE-2021-38295 article provides an overview of a privilege escalation vulnerability in Apache CouchDB and IBM Cloudant involving HTML attachments.
Understanding CVE-2021-38295
This section delves into the details of the identified privilege escalation vulnerability.
What is CVE-2021-38295?
CVE-2021-38295 is a privilege escalation vulnerability found in Apache CouchDB, allowing an attacker to execute JavaScript code in the security context of an admin by manipulating HTML attachments.
The Impact of CVE-2021-38295
The vulnerability enables attackers to add/remove data in databases and make configuration changes, affecting Apache CouchDB versions prior to 3.1.2.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-38295
Exploring the technical aspects of the CVE issue.
Vulnerability Description
The flaw permits malicious users to attach HTML files resulting in privilege escalation by executing embedded JavaScript code in the context of an admin.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Apache CouchDB versions prior to 3.1.2
- IBM Cloudant versions < 8201
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability arises from the ability of malicious users to exploit HTML attachments to execute unauthorized JavaScript code.
Mitigation and Prevention
Suggestions to mitigate the security risks posed by CVE-2021-38295.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Upgrade Apache CouchDB to version 3.1.2 or higher.
- Restrict admin access to limit exposure.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly monitor for unauthorized changes in the database.
- Educate users on secure document handling practices.
Patching and Updates
- Apply patches provided by Apache Software Foundation.