CVE-2021-42051 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

AbanteCart before 1.3.2 allows low-privileged users to upload malicious SVG documents containing XSS payloads.

Understanding CVE-2021-42051

What is CVE-2021-42051?

An issue in AbanteCart before 1.3.2 enables low-privileged users to exploit file-upload permissions by uploading SVG files embedded with XSS payloads.

The Impact of CVE-2021-42051

This vulnerability allows attackers to execute cross-site scripting attacks, potentially compromising sensitive user data and system integrity.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-42051

Vulnerability Description

An issue in AbanteCart before 1.3.2 permits low-privileged users to upload SVG files containing XSS payloads, leading to unauthorized script execution.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Version: AbanteCart before 1.3.2
Systems: Any system running AbanteCart before version 1.3.2

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability arises due to insufficient input validation on SVG file uploads, enabling malicious scripts to be executed within the application context.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade AbanteCart to version 1.3.2 or newer to patch the vulnerability.
Restrict file-upload permissions for low-privileged users to mitigate the risk.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and audit file-upload mechanisms for security vulnerabilities.
Educate users on safe file-upload practices to prevent exploitation.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates provided by AbanteCart to address known vulnerabilities and strengthen system security.