CVE-2021-43815 : What You Need to Know

Grafana directory traversal for

.cvs

files is a vulnerability that affects Grafana versions prior to 8.3.2 and 7.5.12, allowing directory traversal for arbitrary .csv files under specific conditions.

Understanding CVE-2021-43815

This CVE involves a vulnerability in Grafana that enables a directory traversal attack for certain .csv files.

What is CVE-2021-43815?

Grafana, an open-source monitoring and observability platform, is impacted by a directory traversal flaw in versions below 8.3.2 and 7.5.12.

The Impact of CVE-2021-43815

The vulnerability permits directory traversal for .csv files, restricting access to authenticated users with the TestData DB data source enabled.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-43815

This section delves into the technical aspects of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue allows access to .csv files for authorized users with TestData DB data source enabled but is limited in scope and does not affect Grafana Cloud instances.

Affected Systems and Versions

Grafana versions >= 8.0.0-beta3 and < 8.3.2
Grafana versions >= 5.0.0 and < 7.5.12

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability occurs due to improper handling of file paths, which, when exploited, enables access to arbitrary .csv files under specific circumstances.

Mitigation and Prevention

Learn how to mitigate and prevent the CVE exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade to Grafana versions 8.3.2 or 7.5.12, which contain patches for this vulnerability
Implement a reverse proxy in front of Grafana to normalize request paths

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Grafana to the latest version to address security issues
Disable unnecessary features or plugins to reduce the attack surface

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely application of patches and updates to Grafana to protect against known vulnerabilities.