CVE-2021-42751 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Rule Engine in ThingsBoard 3.3.1 allows remote attackers (with administrative access) to inject arbitrary JavaScript within the description of a rule node.

Understanding CVE-2021-42751

A cross-site scripting vulnerability present in ThingsBoard 3.3.1 exposes a security risk for users with administrative privileges.

What is CVE-2021-42751?

The CVE-2021-42751 vulnerability in the Rule Engine of ThingsBoard version 3.3.1 permits malicious actors with administrative authorization to insert unauthorized JavaScript code into a rule node's description.

The Impact of CVE-2021-42751

This vulnerability can result in unauthorized execution of malicious scripts within the application, potentially leading to account compromise, data theft, or other security breaches.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-42751

The technical aspects of the CVE-2021-42751 vulnerability provide crucial insights for understanding its implications.

Vulnerability Description

The XSS flaw in ThingsBoard 3.3.1 exposes a security loophole that enables attackers with administrative privileges to inject JavaScript code illicitly into rule nodes.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: n/a
Product: n/a
Version: 3.3.1 (affected)

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with administrative rights exploit the vulnerability by injecting malicious JavaScript code through the description field of a rule node within the system.

Mitigation and Prevention

Effective mitigation strategies are essential to safeguard systems against potential exploits.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade ThingsBoard to a patched version that addresses the XSS vulnerability.
Regularly monitor and audit rule nodes and their descriptions for any anomalous entries.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement least privilege access to limit administrative rights that could be abused.
Educate users on secure coding practices to prevent XSS attacks.
Utilize security tools like web application firewalls to filter and block malicious script injections.

Patching and Updates

Keep ThingsBoard and all related software up to date with the latest security patches to prevent known vulnerabilities from being exploited.