CVE-2021-39226 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Grafana, an open-source data visualization platform, is affected by a snapshot authentication bypass vulnerability.

Understanding CVE-2021-39226

This CVE involves unauthenticated and authenticated users being able to view and delete snapshots, resulting in complete data loss.

What is CVE-2021-39226?

In affected Grafana versions, users can view and delete snapshots, leading to a security risk.

The Impact of CVE-2021-39226

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 9.8 (Critical severity) and high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-39226

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

Users can access literal paths to view and delete snapshots, potentially leading to complete data loss.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Grafana
Versions: >= 8.0.0, < 8.1.6 and < 7.5.11

Exploitation Mechanism

Unauthenticated and authenticated users can utilize specific paths to access and delete snapshots.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to address and prevent exploitation of the vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Grafana to versions 8.1.6 or 7.5.11
Implement a reverse proxy to block access to vulnerable paths

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Grafana to the latest secure versions
Review and restrict user permissions to prevent unauthorized actions

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely patching and updates for Grafana to address security vulnerabilities.