CVE-2021-42097 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis
Learn about CVE-2021-42097 affecting GNU Mailman, allowing remote Privilege Escalation via CSRF tokens. Find mitigation steps and update recommendations.
GNU Mailman before 2.1.35 may allow remote Privilege Escalation due to a CSRF token vulnerability that can be exploited for account takeover.
Understanding CVE-2021-42097
What is CVE-2021-42097?
GNU Mailman before 2.1.35 is vulnerable to remote Privilege Escalation. The issue arises from a CSRF token not being user-specific, allowing attackers to misuse it for unauthorized admin activities.
The Impact of CVE-2021-42097
The vulnerability enables attackers to escalate privileges by leveraging CSRF attacks, potentially resulting in account takeovers.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-42097
Vulnerability Description
The CSRF token insecurity in GNU Mailman before 2.1.35 permits attackers to gain unauthorized access to admin privileges.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: GNU Mailman
- Versions: All versions before 2.1.35
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can obtain the CSRF token from an unprivileged user account and exploit it in CSRF attacks to impersonate admins for account takeover.
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update GNU Mailman to version 2.1.35 or later.
- Monitor admin activities for suspicious behavior.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Implement user-specific CSRF tokens to prevent token leakage.
- Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing.
Patching and Updates
Apply security patches promptly and keep GNU Mailman updated to mitigate CSRF vulnerabilities.