CVE-2021-46876 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

An issue was discovered in eZ Publish Ibexa Kernel before 7.5.15.1. The /user/sessions endpoint can be abused to determine account existence.

Understanding CVE-2021-46876

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in eZ Publish Ibexa Kernel that could allow malicious actors to ascertain the existence of user accounts through the /user/sessions endpoint.

What is CVE-2021-46876?

The issue in eZ Publish Ibexa Kernel enables unauthorized individuals to exploit the /user/sessions endpoint to confirm the presence of specific accounts within the system, possibly leading to further security breaches.

The Impact of CVE-2021-46876

The vulnerability can result in a privacy breach as attackers can illicitly confirm user account existence, potentially paving the way for more severe security violations.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-46876

The following sections provide more insight into the technical aspects of CVE-2021-46876.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in eZ Publish Ibexa Kernel before version 7.5.15.1 allows the /user/sessions endpoint to be manipulated, disclosing account details.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: Not Applicable
Product: Not Applicable
Affected Version: Not Applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by sending crafted requests to the /user/sessions endpoint, gauging if specific accounts exist based on server responses.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems against CVE-2021-46876 using the following strategies.

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable or restrict access to the /user/sessions endpoint.
Monitor logs and network traffic for any suspicious activity.
Implement strong authentication mechanisms.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security assessments and audits.
Keep software and systems up to date to patch vulnerabilities promptly.

Patching and Updates

Ensure you update to eZ Publish Ibexa Kernel version 7.5.15.1 or higher to address the vulnerability.