CVE-2021-43176 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

The GOautodial API prior to commit 3c3a979 made on October 13th, 2021, is vulnerable to a Relative Path Traversal attack due to unsanitized user input. This can lead to remote code execution on the server.

Understanding CVE-2021-43176

This CVE identifies a security vulnerability in the GOautodial API that allows an attacker to execute arbitrary PHP files on the server.

What is CVE-2021-43176?

The GOautodial API, before commit 3c3a979, mishandles user-supplied input, allowing for the execution of PHP files with a .php extension on the server.

The Impact of CVE-2021-43176

The vulnerability enables a malicious actor to run arbitrary PHP files on the server, potentially leading to server compromise and unauthorized actions.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-43176

The technical aspects of this CVE provide insight into the vulnerability's description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

GOautodial API pre-commit 3c3a979 allows loading PHP files based on unsanitized user input.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: GOautodial API
Vendor: GOautodial
Versions Affected: < 3c3a979

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by providing a malicious PHP file through the "action" parameter.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2021-43176, immediate actions and long-term security practices are crucial.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update to version 3c3a979 or newer that includes proper input sanitation.
Monitor server logs for suspicious activities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strict input validation and output encoding in web applications.
Regularly audit and review server configurations and file permissions.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches promptly to mitigate known vulnerabilities.