CVE-2021-43298 : Security Advisory and Response
Discover how CVE-2021-43298 exposes a password brute-forcing risk in GoAhead by Embedthis. Learn about the impact, affected versions, and mitigation steps.
Inadequate password matching in 'Basic' HTTP authentication in GoAhead by Embedthis exposes a vulnerability that allows unauthenticated network attackers to perform brute-force attacks on passwords.
Understanding CVE-2021-43298
What is CVE-2021-43298?
The vulnerability in the code handling password matching in 'Basic' HTTP authentication allows attackers to brute-force passwords via timing analysis.
The Impact of CVE-2021-43298
The CVSS base score of 5.3 indicates a moderate impact, with low attack complexity and confidentiality impact.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-43298
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability arises due to the absence of constant-time memcmp and rate-limiting in password matching, enabling brute-force attacks.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: GoAhead
- Vendor: Embedthis
- Versions Affected: Less than 5.1.4 (Unspecified)
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by recording web server response times during password brute-forcing attempts.
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply security patches provided by the vendor promptly.
- Implement strong password policies and rate-limiting mechanisms.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Conduct regular security audits and code reviews to detect similar vulnerabilities.
- Educate users on the importance of strong password practices.
Patching and Updates
Ensure all GoAhead installations are updated to version 5.1.4 to mitigate the vulnerability.