CVE-2021-27917 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Acquia's Mautic platform. This vulnerability allows for stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks in the contact tracking and page hits report functionality. With a CVSS score of 7.3, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to affected installations. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious scripts in the context of users, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data theft.
The vulnerability was published on September 18, 2024, and has been analyzed, indicating the urgency for organizations to address the issue. Given the exploitability of this vulnerability, organizations must prioritize patching immediately to protect their environments and users.
The stored XSS flaw is classified under CWE-79, which highlights its nature as a critical web security issue. The attack vector is network-based, and the complexity is low, meaning that an attacker could exploit this vulnerability easily without requiring significant technical skills.
Organizations using Acquia Mautic must act swiftly to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability. Immediate patching should be a priority to prevent attackers from exploiting this weakness.
Vulnerability Details
The official description for CVE-2021-27917 states: "Prior to this patch, a stored XSS vulnerability existed in the contact tracking and page hits report." This vulnerability has a CVSS score of 7.3, indicating high severity, with the potential for low confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. The affected product is Mautic by Acquia, and it affects all versions prior to the vendor patch released for version 4.4.13.
The vulnerability was classified under CWE-79, which refers to improper neutralization of input during web page generation ('Cross-site Scripting'). Organizations should be aware of the implications of this vulnerability and take necessary actions to secure their systems.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2021-27917 is linked to inadequate input validation in the contact tracking and page hits report functionality. This flaw allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that are later served to other users, leading to potential unauthorized actions. The attack vector is network-based, requiring no user interaction, and the complexity is low, which facilitates an easy exploitation process.
This vulnerability requires no privileges to exploit, meaning any user can potentially trigger the attack. The confidentiality and integrity impacts are low, while the availability impact is also minimal. Organizations should focus on addressing the vulnerabilities within their Mautic installations to prevent potential exploitation.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world risk associated with CVE-2021-27917 is significant, as it can lead to unauthorized access and data compromise within organizations using Acquia Mautic. Given the nature of XSS vulnerabilities, the potential blast radius can be extensive, affecting multiple users and stakeholders.
Organizations should be particularly concerned about how such vulnerabilities can lead to broader attacks, including phishing and account takeover. The urgency for addressing this vulnerability is underscored by its high CVSS score and the potential for exploitation in real-world scenarios.
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The following versions of Acquia Mautic are affected by this vulnerability: all versions prior to 4.4.13, including versions from 1.0.0 to 5.1.0, as well as specific release candidates and beta versions. Organizations should ensure that they are running a patched version to mitigate the risk.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations must apply the available patch provided by Acquia for Mautic to remediate this vulnerability. The recommended version to upgrade to is 4.4.13 or later. If immediate patching is not possible, organizations should implement configuration hardening and network controls to limit exposure to potential attacks. Continuous monitoring for anomalies is also advised.
For further assistance, organizations can consider utilizing penetration testing services to validate the effectiveness of their remediation efforts.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for unusual behavior that may indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. Key indicators include unexpected script execution or user interactions that deviate from normal patterns. Network signatures related to the contact tracking and page hits report functionalities should also be reviewed.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2021-27917 lies in highlighting the importance of securing web applications against XSS vulnerabilities. This incident reflects a broader trend of increasing attacks targeting web applications, where attackers leverage such flaws to compromise user data and trust.
Security teams must learn from this incident to reinforce their defenses against similar vulnerabilities in the future. Implementing robust input validation mechanisms and regularly testing their applications for security weaknesses can significantly reduce their risk profile.
For further reading on vulnerability management, organizations can explore the vulnerability management program design and implementation strategies.
Additionally, organizations should consider adopting a strategy for continuous security testing, which can be explored through our continuous penetration testing services to proactively identify and address vulnerabilities.
Finally, organizations can enhance their security posture by reviewing best practices for web application security, as highlighted in our web application penetration testing guide.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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