CVE-2021-23445 is a low-severity vulnerability impacting the datatables.net package in all versions prior to 1.11.3. This vulnerability allows an attacker to exploit the HTML escape entities function when an array is passed, leading to a failure in escaping its contents. This misconfiguration can expose applications to cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks, where attackers may execute malicious scripts in the context of a user’s session.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 3.1, categorizing it as low severity. The low severity indicates that while the vulnerability exists, the conditions required for an exploit are not trivial, requiring specific user interaction. Nevertheless, organizations should be aware of the potential risk to their applications and prioritize remediation in their patch management cycle.
The vulnerability was published on September 27, 2021. Organizations using affected versions of datatables.net should take this issue seriously, as failure to apply the necessary patches may expose them to security risks. Regularly updating libraries and packages is essential to maintaining application security.
As of now, there are no known public exploits for CVE-2021-23445, but the potential for XSS attacks remains a concern. Organizations are encouraged to assess their exposure and apply the latest updates to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability.
Vulnerability Details
This vulnerability affects the package datatables.net before version 1.11.3. If an array is passed to the HTML escape entities function, it would not have its contents escaped. This misconfiguration can lead to cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities.
The CVSS score, as provided by multiple sources, indicates a base score of 3.1 with a low severity interpretation. The attack vector is network-based, and the attack complexity is categorized as high. There are no privileges required for exploitation, but user interaction is necessary.
The vulnerability was disclosed on September 27, 2021, and is classified under CWE-79, which pertains to improper neutralization of input during web page generation ('Cross-site Scripting').
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2021-23445 stems from the failure of the HTML escape entities function to properly handle arrays. When an array is inputted, the function does not escape its contents, leading to potential XSS vulnerabilities. Attackers may leverage this flaw by crafting malicious payloads that could execute in a user's browser.
The attack vector is network-based, indicating that an attacker must be able to send a crafted request to the vulnerable application. The attack complexity is high, as it requires specific conditions to be met, including user interaction to trigger the exploit.
The vulnerability does not require any privileges to exploit and necessitates user interaction for successful execution. The confidentiality impact is low, as an attacker may gain access to sensitive information through the compromised session. There is no integrity or availability impact associated with this vulnerability.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Risk to organizations includes the potential for unauthorized access to user sessions and the execution of malicious scripts. Although the severity is classified as low, the implications of successful exploitation could lead to data theft or manipulation, depending on the application's architecture.
Organizations should assess the blast radius of this vulnerability, especially if the datatables.net package is integral to their web applications. The urgency for remediation should be based on the presence of the affected versions in production environments.
CVE-2021-23445 has been scored on the EPSS risk context, with a score of 0.00379, indicating a low likelihood of exploitation. However, organizations should remain vigilant and prioritize addressing this vulnerability in their patch management cycles.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The only affected version mentioned is datatables.net prior to 1.11.3. Organizations using this package should upgrade to version 1.11.3 or later to mitigate this vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
To remediate CVE-2021-23445, organizations should upgrade to version 1.11.3 or later of datatables.net. If immediate patching is not feasible, consider implementing input validation to sanitize data passed to the HTML escape entities function. Furthermore, organizations should conduct a security assessment to evaluate potential exposure to XSS vulnerabilities.
For further assistance in vulnerability management and remediation, organizations can leverage our penetration testing services to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability, organizations should monitor application logs for suspicious activity related to user inputs being processed by the HTML escape entities function. Behavioral anomalies, such as unexpected errors or performance issues when processing user data, should also be investigated.
Network signatures related to unusual requests or payloads involving datatables.net should be established to help identify possible exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should keep an eye on system changes that may indicate attempts to manipulate application behavior.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
CVE-2021-23445 illustrates a common risk associated with web application vulnerabilities, particularly in how input is processed. Security teams should learn from this incident to enforce strict input validation and output encoding practices in their applications.
This vulnerability serves as a reminder that even low-severity issues can have significant implications if not addressed. Organizations should consider adopting a holistic approach to application security, integrating continuous monitoring and regular security assessments into their development lifecycle.
For more insights into securing applications and managing vulnerabilities, organizations can refer to our vulnerability management program and our comprehensive penetration testing methodology guide.
Finally, organizations should stay informed on emerging threats and vulnerabilities to adapt their security posture accordingly, ensuring robust defenses against potential exploitation.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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