CVE-2021-26558 in ShardingSphere-UI
Summary
by MITRE • 11/11/2021
Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerability of Apache ShardingSphere-UI allows an attacker to inject outer link resources. This issue affects Apache ShardingSphere-UI Apache ShardingSphere-UI version 4.1.1 and later versions; Apache ShardingSphere-UI versions prior to 5.0.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/16/2021
The CVE-2021-26558 vulnerability represents a critical deserialization of untrusted data flaw within Apache ShardingSphere-UI, a distributed database middleware solution that provides database sharding capabilities. This vulnerability specifically targets the user interface component of the ShardingSphere ecosystem, creating a potential attack vector that could allow remote adversaries to inject malicious external link resources into the application. The flaw exists in the way the UI component processes and deserializes data from untrusted sources, which could enable attackers to manipulate the application's behavior through crafted input. The vulnerability affects Apache ShardingSphere-UI versions 4.1.1 through 5.0.0, making it a significant concern for organizations that have deployed these versions in production environments. This deserialization vulnerability falls under the CWE-502 category, which specifically addresses the deserialization of untrusted data, a well-known weakness that has been exploited in numerous high-profile security incidents across the industry.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly validate and sanitize input data before processing it through the deserialization mechanism. When Apache ShardingSphere-UI receives data from external sources, particularly user-provided configuration parameters or resource references, it does not adequately verify the integrity and origin of this data. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that, when deserialized, can execute arbitrary code or inject external resources into the application. The attack typically involves manipulating configuration files or input parameters that are then processed through the deserialization pipeline, potentially allowing for remote code execution or unauthorized access to the underlying database infrastructure. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in database management interfaces where administrative privileges are often required, as successful exploitation could provide attackers with elevated access to critical data systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-26558 extends beyond simple data corruption or unauthorized access, as it represents a fundamental flaw in the application's security architecture that could enable more sophisticated attacks. Organizations utilizing Apache ShardingSphere-UI in their database management workflows face significant risks including potential data breaches, unauthorized database access, and system compromise. The vulnerability's presence in versions 4.1.1 through 5.0.0 means that a substantial portion of the user base could be affected, particularly those that have not yet upgraded to the latest stable releases. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques documented in the ATT&CK framework under the T1059 category for command and scripting interpreters, as successful exploitation could allow for command execution within the application environment. The impact is compounded by the fact that ShardingSphere-UI typically operates in environments with high-value data, making it an attractive target for cybercriminals seeking to gain access to sensitive information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-26558 should focus on immediate remediation through version upgrades to Apache ShardingSphere-UI 5.0.0 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed in the codebase. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and sanitization measures to prevent untrusted data from reaching the deserialization layer, particularly in configuration management components. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of the UI component to untrusted networks, while also implementing proper monitoring and logging of configuration changes and data processing activities. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and runtime application self-protection mechanisms to detect and block malicious deserialization attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of adhering to secure coding practices and following the principle of least privilege when designing database management interfaces, ensuring that all external inputs are properly validated and that the application's deserialization processes are hardened against malicious payloads. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments of their database management infrastructure to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across their entire technology stack.