CVE-2021-33327 in Liferay
Summary
by MITRE • 08/03/2021
The Portlet Configuration module in Liferay Portal 7.2.0 through 7.3.3, and Liferay DXP 7.0 fix pack pack 93 and 94, 7.1 fix pack 18, and 7.2 before fix pack 8, does not properly check user permission, which allows remote authenticated users to view the Guest and User role even if "Role Visibility" is enabled.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/14/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-33327 resides within the Portlet Configuration module of Liferay Portal and Liferay DXP platforms, representing a critical authorization bypass issue that affects multiple versions including Liferay Portal 7.2.0 through 7.3.3 and various DXP fix packs. This flaw specifically targets the role visibility controls that are designed to restrict access to sensitive role configurations, creating a scenario where authenticated users can circumvent intended security boundaries. The vulnerability operates at the application logic level where permission validation mechanisms fail to properly enforce access controls, allowing unauthorized information disclosure through the exposure of guest and user role configurations. This issue falls under the CWE-285 permission checking category, specifically manifesting as an improper authorization flaw that enables privilege escalation through information disclosure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when authenticated users interact with the portlet configuration interfaces, leveraging the missing permission checks to access role information that should be restricted based on visibility settings. The flaw exists in the backend validation logic where role visibility controls are not properly enforced during configuration access requests, enabling attackers to retrieve sensitive role information regardless of their assigned permissions or the visibility settings configured by administrators. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a breakdown in the access control mechanisms that should prevent unauthorized viewing of role configurations. The vulnerability can be classified under ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting, as it enables attackers to gather information about role configurations that could aid in further exploitation attempts.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-33327 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposure of guest and user role configurations provides attackers with valuable intelligence about the portal's security structure and user access patterns. This information can be leveraged to craft more sophisticated attacks targeting specific user roles or to understand the overall security posture of the Liferay implementation. The vulnerability affects organizations using Liferay Portal and DXP platforms where role visibility settings are enabled as a security control, potentially exposing sensitive configuration data that could be used to plan targeted attacks against specific user groups or to understand the platform's access control architecture. Organizations may experience compliance violations and security risk escalation when role visibility controls are bypassed, particularly in regulated environments where access control and information protection are critical requirements.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on applying the vendor-provided patches and updates that address the permission checking flaw in the Portlet Configuration module. Administrators should ensure all affected Liferay Portal and DXP installations are updated to versions that contain the security fixes, particularly those released after the vulnerability disclosure. Additional protective measures include implementing network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces, enforcing strict access controls for portlet configuration interfaces, and conducting regular security audits to identify similar authorization bypass issues. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper permission validation and access control implementation, making it essential for organizations to review their application logic for similar flaws. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual access patterns to role configuration interfaces, and organizations should consider implementing additional logging and alerting mechanisms to track access to sensitive administrative functions. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing can help identify similar authorization bypass opportunities in other components of the Liferay platform or related applications.