CVE-2021-41180 : What You Need to Know

Nextcloud Talk, a self-hosted messaging service, was vulnerable to an open-redirect attack in versions prior to 12.1.2. This CVE allowed an attacker to control geolocation preview links and required user interaction for exploitation. It was specific to the Android Talk client.

Understanding CVE-2021-41180

This CVE affected Nextcloud Talk versions before 12.1.2, enabling attackers to manipulate geolocation preview links.

What is CVE-2021-41180?

CWE-601: URL Redirection to Untrusted Site ('Open Redirect') vulnerability in Nextcloud Talk
Attack vector: Network
Attack complexity: High
User interaction required: Yes

The Impact of CVE-2021-41180

The vulnerability had a CVSS base score of 4.7 (Medium severity) with low confidentiality and integrity impacts. It did not affect availability, but it required user interaction for exploitation.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-41180

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

Lack of validation on geolocation preview links in Nextcloud Talk versions < 12.1.2
Allowed attackers to control links, leading to an open-redirect vulnerability

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: Nextcloud
Product: Security Advisories
Affected Version: < 12.1.2

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers could manipulate geolocation preview links
Required user interaction for successful exploitation

Mitigation and Prevention

Learn how to mitigate and prevent the impact of CVE-2021-41180.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Nextcloud Talk App to version 12.1.2
Monitor for any suspicious activities related to geolocation previews

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strict input validation for user-generated content
Educate users about the risks of interacting with unknown links

Patching and Updates

Regularly update Nextcloud Talk application to the latest secure version