CVE-2021-46440 : What You Need to Know

Storing passwords in a recoverable format in the DOCUMENTATION plugin component of Strapi before 3.6.9 and 4.x before 4.1.5 can lead to a security vulnerability that allows attackers to access sensitive information.

Understanding CVE-2021-46440

This CVE involves a vulnerability in the DOCUMENTATION plugin component of Strapi that can be exploited to retrieve cleartext passwords.

What is CVE-2021-46440?

The CVE-2021-46440 vulnerability in Strapi before versions 3.6.9 and 4.1.5 allows attackers to access user HTTP requests, retrieve victim cookies, perform base64 decoding on cookies, and ultimately obtain cleartext passwords.

The Impact of CVE-2021-46440

Exploiting this vulnerability can grant attackers access to sensitive user passwords, potentially leading to further API attacks and unauthorized access to API documentation.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-46440

This section provides technical specifics of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

Storing passwords in a retrievable format in the DOCUMENTATION plugin component of Strapi before versions 3.6.9 and 4.1.5.

Affected Systems and Versions

Strapi versions before 3.6.9 and 4.x before 4.1.5.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attacker accessing victim's HTTP request
Retrieving victim's cookie
Performing base64 decode on victim's cookie
Obtaining cleartext password

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to address and prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Strapi to version 3.6.9 or 4.1.5 or later.
Implement strong password security measures.
Monitor API requests for unusual activities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update security configurations.
Conduct security assessments to identify vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Keep Strapi and related components up to date.
Apply patches and security updates promptly.