CVE-2021-3844 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Understanding CVE-2021-3844

This article discusses the impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies related to CVE-2021-3844 affecting Rapid7 InsightVM.

What is CVE-2021-3844?

Rapid7 InsightVM is prone to insufficient session expiration, allowing an attacker to maintain access after an administrator edits a user's credentials. This issue can lead to unauthorized access and potential security breaches.

The Impact of CVE-2021-3844

The vulnerability in Rapid7 InsightVM can result in high confidentiality and integrity impact. Attackers with high privileges can exploit this flaw to stay logged in and cause further damage.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-3844

This section covers the vulnerability description, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

Insufficient session expiration in Rapid7 InsightVM allows attackers to retain access even after an administrator changes a user's password, facilitating prolonged unauthorized activity.

Affected Systems and Versions

Rapid7 InsightVM versions prior to 6.5.50 are impacted by this vulnerability, with version 6.5.50 and above being unaffected.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with network access and high privileges can exploit this vulnerability by maintaining active sessions post-credential changes, leading to unauthorized system access.

Mitigation and Prevention

In this section, we outline immediate steps to take and long-term security practices to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-3844.

Immediate Steps to Take

Implement the Platform Login feature in Rapid7 InsightVM to ensure proper session expiration and prevent unauthorized access. Regularly monitor user sessions for any anomalies.

Long-Term Security Practices

Enhance user access management practices, conduct regular security audits, and educate users on secure password practices to mitigate the risks of unauthorized access.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that Rapid7 InsightVM is updated to version 6.5.50 or above to eliminate the vulnerability and enhance system security.