CVE-2021-43835 : What You Need to Know
Learn about CVE-2021-43835, a high-severity vulnerability in Sulu CMS allowing unauthorized users to gain elevated privileges. Find mitigation steps and patching details here.
Sulu is an open-source PHP content management system based on the Symfony framework. In affected versions Sulu users who have access to any subset of the admin UI are able to elevate their privilege.
Understanding CVE-2021-43835
What is CVE-2021-43835?
In versions of Sulu CMS below 2.2.18 and 2.3.8, a vulnerability allows users to escalate their privileges, granting access to areas they should not have permissions for.
The Impact of CVE-2021-43835
The vulnerability poses a high risk to confidentiality, integrity, and availability, allowing unauthorized users to gain elevated privileges within the system.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-43835
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability allows users to manipulate permissions via the API, enabling them to access unauthorized areas. It was introduced in 2.0.0-RC1 with the ProfileController putAction.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Versions >= 2.0.0, < 2.2.18
- Versions >= 2.3.0, < 2.3.8
Exploitation Mechanism
- Attack Complexity: Low
- Attack Vector: Network
- Privileges Required: High
- User Interaction: None
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take
- Upgrade Sulu CMS to versions 2.2.18, 2.3.8, or 2.4.0 to apply patches
- For those unable to upgrade, apply a patch manually to the ProfileController
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly review and update user permissions
- Conduct security audits to identify and address vulnerabilities
Patching and Updates
Regularly check for updates and apply patches promptly to mitigate security risks.