CVE-2021-21366 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2021-21366, a vulnerability in xmldom allowing for misinterpretation of malicious XML input. Discover impact, affected systems, exploitation, and mitigation steps.
A vulnerability has been identified in xmldom versions 0.4.0 and older, allowing for the misinterpretation of malicious XML input. This issue can lead to unexpected syntactic changes during XML processing in downstream applications. Here's what you need to know about CVE-2021-21366.
Understanding CVE-2021-21366
This vulnerability in xmldom arises from the incorrect preservation of system identifiers, FPIs, or namespaces when repeatedly parsing and serializing maliciously crafted documents.
What is CVE-2021-21366?
xmldom, a pure JavaScript module, fails to correctly preserve certain identifiers and elements in older versions, potentially altering the syntactic structure of XML documents upon processing.
The Impact of CVE-2021-21366
The vulnerability can be exploited to manipulate XML content, leading to unexpected changes in XML syntax during processing by downstream applications, which may pose a risk to data integrity.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-21366
The following technical details outline the vulnerability in xmldom.
Vulnerability Description
xmldom versions 0.4.0 and older fail to preserve system identifiers, FPIs, or namespaces when repeatedly parsing and serializing crafted XML documents, potentially leading to syntactic changes.
Affected Systems and Versions
Vendor: xmldom Product: xmldom Versions Affected: < 0.5.0
Exploitation Mechanism
Maliciously crafted XML documents can exploit this vulnerability in xmldom, resulting in unexpected changes in XML syntax during processing.
Mitigation and Prevention
Learn how to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-21366.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Upgrade to version 0.5.0 of xmldom to address this vulnerability.
- Downstream applications can implement input validation to detect and reject maliciously crafted XML documents.
Long-Term Security Practices
Regularly update software components and libraries to ensure the latest security patches and improvements are implemented.
Patching and Updates
Stay informed about security advisories and updates related to xmldom to maintain a secure software environment.