CVE-2021-42041 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Discover the impact of CVE-2021-42041 on CentralAuth in MediaWiki versions up to 1.36.2. Learn about the vulnerability, affected systems, exploitation, and mitigation steps.
CentralAuth in MediaWiki through 1.36.2 is affected by an issue that allows injection and execution of HTML and JavaScript. Learn more about the impact, technical details, and how to mitigate this CVE.
Understanding CVE-2021-42041
An issue in CentralAuth in MediaWiki through version 1.36.2 allows unauthorized injection and execution of HTML and JavaScript through a specific log entry.
What is CVE-2021-42041?
The rightsnone MediaWiki message in CentralAuth in MediaWiki through version 1.36.2 is not sanitized correctly, enabling the injection and execution of malicious HTML and JavaScript code via the setchange log.
The Impact of CVE-2021-42041
This vulnerability could be exploited by attackers to introduce arbitrary code execution, potentially leading to sensitive data exposure or privilege escalation within affected systems.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-42041
CentralAuth in MediaWiki is susceptible to the following:
Vulnerability Description
The rightsnone MediaWiki message is not sanitized properly, allowing malicious HTML and JavaScript injection via the setchange log.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: CentralAuth in MediaWiki
- Versions: up to and including 1.36.2
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious HTML and JavaScript code via the setchange log entry in systems using affected versions of CentralAuth in MediaWiki.
Mitigation and Prevention
It's crucial to take immediate action and implement preventative measures to mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2021-42041.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Upgrade CentralAuth in MediaWiki to a patched version that addresses this vulnerability.
- Monitor suspicious activities and log entries for signs of unauthorized code injection.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update and patch software to address security vulnerabilities.
- Conduct security audits to identify and mitigate potential risks within the system.
Patching and Updates
Ensure that CentralAuth in MediaWiki is kept up-to-date with the latest security patches to prevent exploitation of CVE-2021-42041.