CVE-2021-42342 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

An issue was discovered in GoAhead 4.x and 5.x before 5.1.5 where user form variables can be passed to CGI scripts without the necessary prefix, allowing untrusted environment variables into vulnerable CGI scripts.

Understanding CVE-2021-42342

What is CVE-2021-42342?

This CVE identifies a security flaw in GoAhead versions 4.x and 5.x that could lead to untrusted environment variables being injected into vulnerable CGI scripts.

The Impact of CVE-2021-42342

The identified vulnerability can result in malicious actors injecting untrusted data into CGI scripts, potentially leading to unauthorized access and other security breaches.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-42342

Vulnerability Description

The issue lies in the file upload filter of GoAhead versions 4.x and 5.x before 5.1.5, allowing user form variables to bypass CGI prefixing, exposing vulnerable CGI scripts.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: GoAhead
Versions affected: 4.x and 5.x before 5.1.5

Exploitation Mechanism

By exploiting this vulnerability, attackers can pass untrusted environment variables to CGI scripts, which may result in unauthorized access or data manipulation.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update GoAhead to version 5.1.5 or later to mitigate this security issue.
Implement proper input validation mechanisms to prevent untrusted data injection.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit CGI scripts for any unauthorized access or abnormal activities.
Educate developers on secure coding practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely application of security patches and updates to all software components to address known vulnerabilities.