CVE-2021-41792 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

An issue was discovered in Hyland org.alfresco:alfresco-content-services through 6.2.2.18 and org.alfresco:alfresco-transform-services through 1.3. A crafted HTML file, once uploaded, could trigger an unexpected request by the transformation engine resulting in blind SSRF.

Understanding CVE-2021-41792

What is CVE-2021-41792?

The vulnerability in org.alfresco:alfresco-content-services and org.alfresco:alfresco-transform-services allows an attacker to trigger unexpected requests using a specially crafted HTML file, leading to blind SSRF.

The Impact of CVE-2021-41792

This vulnerability enables an attacker to launch blind Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) attacks, potentially bypassing security controls and accessing internal resources.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-41792

Vulnerability Description

A crafted HTML file, upon upload, can provoke the transformation engine to make unauthorized requests, allowing an attacker to exploit blind SSRF.

Affected Systems and Versions

Products: org.alfresco:alfresco-content-services, org.alfresco:alfresco-transform-services
Versions: up to 6.2.2.18 for content services and up to 1.3 for transform services

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers upload a specially crafted HTML file to trigger unauthorized requests via the transformation engine, exploiting this blind SSRF vulnerability.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Implement input validation mechanisms to prevent the upload of malicious HTML files.
Monitor and restrict network requests to prevent unauthorized access.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security assessments and audits to identify and remediate vulnerabilities.
Educate users on safe upload practices and the risks associated with blind SSRF.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by Hyland for both org.alfresco:alfresco-content-services and org.alfresco:alfresco-transform-services.