CVE-2021-44030 : What You Need to Know

Quest KACE Desktop Authority before 11.2 is vulnerable to XSS attacks due to the lack of mitigation against untrusted HTML reaching the jQuery.htmlPrefilter method of jQuery.

Understanding CVE-2021-44030

Quest KACE Desktop Authority before version 11.2 allows for XSS exploitation, potentially leading to unauthorized access or data manipulation.

What is CVE-2021-44030?

CVE-2021-44030 refers to a vulnerability in Quest KACE Desktop Authority before 11.2 that exposes it to cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks by failing to prevent untrusted HTML from accessing the jQuery.htmlPrefilter method.

The Impact of CVE-2021-44030

The vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute malicious scripts in the context of the user's session, leading to various security risks such as data theft, session hijacking, and further exploitation of vulnerabilities.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-44030

Quest KACE Desktop Authority before version 11.2 is susceptible to XSS attacks due to inadequate input validation procedures.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from the failure to sanitize untrusted HTML content, enabling an attacker to inject and execute arbitrary scripts within the application.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Quest KACE Desktop Authority
Versions affected: Before 11.2

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious HTML content that gets processed by the jQuery.htmlPrefilter method, giving them the opportunity to execute arbitrary scripts and perform unauthorized actions.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to secure affected systems and implement long-term security practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade to the latest version of Quest KACE Desktop Authority (11.2 or newer) to patch the vulnerability.
Review and sanitize user inputs to prevent XSS attacks.
Monitor system logs for any suspicious activities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security assessments and audits to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.
Train developers and administrators on secure coding practices and the importance of input validation.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by Quest for Quest KACE Desktop Authority.
Apply patches promptly to ensure that known vulnerabilities are addressed and security posture is improved.