CVE-2021-43817 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis
Learn about CVE-2021-43817 affecting Collabora Online, allowing attackers to execute scripts and access user settings. Find mitigation steps and software updates to prevent exploitation.
Collabora Online is a collaborative online office suite based on LibreOffice technology. In affected versions, a reflected XSS vulnerability was found, allowing attackers to inject unescaped HTML and execute scripts within the context of Collabora Online iframe.
Understanding CVE-2021-43817
What is CVE-2021-43817?
Collabora Online is susceptible to a reflected Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability, potentially enabling malicious actors to access user settings and authentication tokens.
The Impact of CVE-2021-43817
The vulnerability has a high severity base score of 8.2, with low confidentiality impact but high integrity impact. Attackers can exploit this issue without needing privileges, requiring user interaction.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-43817
Vulnerability Description
The flaw allows for the injection of unescaped HTML into variables during Collabora Online iframe creation, leading to script execution within the iframe context.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Collabora Online versions >= 6.0.0, < 6.4.16
- Collabora Online versions < 4.2.20
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can craft malicious payloads to inject scripts into the Collabora Online iframe, leveraging the vulnerability to execute unauthorized actions.
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take
- Upgrade to Collabora Online 6.4.16 or higher, or Collabora Online 4.2.20 or higher
- Be cautious of user interactions that may trigger XSS attacks
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update software to the latest secure versions
Patching and Updates
It is essential to stay informed about security advisories and promptly apply patches to address known vulnerabilities.