CVE-2021-46872 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

An issue in Nim before 1.6.2 allows XSS due to the RST module permitting the javascript: URI scheme.

Understanding CVE-2021-46872

What is CVE-2021-46872?

CVE-2021-46872 is a vulnerability found in Nim before version 1.6.2, specifically in the RST module of the Nim language stdlib. This vulnerability allows the use of the javascript: URI scheme, potentially leading to cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks in certain applications.

The Impact of CVE-2021-46872

The impact of this CVE is the potential for XSS attacks in applications using Nim versions prior to 1.6.2. NimForum 2.2.0 is fixed and not affected.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-46872

Vulnerability Description

This vulnerability arises from the RST module in Nim permitting the javascript: URI scheme, which can be exploited to execute XSS attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: n/a
Product: n/a
Versions: All versions before Nim 1.6.2 are affected

Exploitation Mechanism

The exploitation involves leveraging the javascript: URI scheme allowed by the RST module in Nim to execute XSS attacks.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Nim to version 1.6.2 or later to mitigate this vulnerability
Apply any available patches or backports provided by Nim for earlier versions

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Nim language and associated modules to stay protected from known vulnerabilities
Implement input validation and output encoding in applications to prevent XSS attacks

Patching and Updates

Upgrade to Nim version 1.6.2 or newer to ensure the fix for CVE-2021-46872 is applied
Monitor Nim's official channels for any further security updates