CVE-2021-40965 in TinyFileManager
Summary
by MITRE • 09/16/2021
A Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability exists in TinyFileManager all version up to and including 2.4.6 that allows attackers to upload files and run OS commands by inducing the Administrator user to browse a URL controlled by an attacker.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2025
The CVE-2021-40965 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw in TinyFileManager, a widely used web-based file management system. This vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 2.4.6, making it a significant security concern for organizations relying on this file manager. The flaw stems from inadequate protection mechanisms against CSRF attacks, which allow malicious actors to manipulate authenticated users into performing unauthorized actions. The vulnerability specifically targets the administrative interface of TinyFileManager, where attackers can exploit the lack of proper CSRF token validation to execute malicious operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the fundamental weakness in the application's authentication and authorization mechanisms. TinyFileManager fails to implement robust CSRF protection measures such as anti-forgery tokens or origin validation checks. When an administrator user visits a malicious website or clicks on a compromised link, the attacker can craft requests that appear legitimate to the file manager's backend. This allows the attacker to upload arbitrary files to the server and subsequently execute operating system commands through the uploaded files. The vulnerability essentially bypasses the authentication layer by leveraging the trusted relationship between the administrator's browser and the file manager application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, potentially leading to complete system compromise. An attacker who successfully exploits this CSRF vulnerability can gain persistent access to the target server, upload malware or backdoors, and execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the web server process. This creates a foothold for further attacks including lateral movement, data exfiltration, and establishment of command and control channels. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal user interaction beyond visiting a malicious URL, making it highly effective for automated exploitation campaigns. Organizations using TinyFileManager versions up to 2.4.6 face significant risk of unauthorized access and potential data breaches.
Security professionals should immediately implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves upgrading to a patched version of TinyFileManager, as the vulnerability has been resolved in subsequent releases. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block CSRF attack patterns, and deploy proper CSRF token validation mechanisms. Network segmentation and privilege separation can help limit the potential damage if exploitation occurs. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery issues, and corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script injection, highlighting the potential for remote code execution. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other applications within the organization's attack surface.