CVE-2021-41808 in Server
Summary
by MITRE • 01/18/2022
In M-Files Server product with versions before 21.11.10775.0, enabling logging of Federated authentication to event log wrote sensitive information to log. Mitigating factors are logging is disabled by default.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/23/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-41808 affects the M-Files Server product and represents a security flaw in the handling of authentication logging mechanisms. This issue specifically manifests when federated authentication logging is enabled within the system, creating a potential exposure of sensitive information through event log entries. The vulnerability exists in versions prior to 21.11.10775.0, indicating that the M-Files development team has addressed this concern in their subsequent releases. The flaw directly relates to improper handling of sensitive data during the logging process, which can compromise the confidentiality of authentication information.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-532, which addresses information exposure through log files, and CWE-200, which covers exposure of sensitive information. When federated authentication is configured to log events, the system inadvertently includes sensitive authentication tokens, credentials, or other confidential data within the event log entries. This creates a situation where unauthorized individuals with access to the event logs could potentially extract and exploit this sensitive information. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insufficient data sanitization during logging operations, where the system fails to properly filter or obfuscate sensitive elements before writing them to persistent storage.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to organizations relying on M-Files Server for document management and collaboration. The exposure of federated authentication information could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to systems, escalate privileges, or conduct further reconnaissance activities. Even though logging is disabled by default, organizations that have explicitly enabled this feature face potential compromise. The vulnerability essentially creates a backdoor through which sensitive authentication data can be extracted from system logs, potentially leading to account takeovers, unauthorized system access, or broader network compromise. Security administrators must consider the implications of this flaw when assessing their overall security posture and conducting vulnerability assessments.
The mitigations for CVE-2021-41808 primarily involve upgrading to M-Files Server version 21.11.10775.0 or later, where the issue has been resolved through proper implementation of sensitive data handling in logging mechanisms. Organizations should also conduct thorough reviews of their logging configurations to ensure that federated authentication logging is not unnecessarily enabled in production environments. The principle of least privilege should be applied to log access controls, limiting who can view event logs containing potentially sensitive information. Additionally, organizations should implement proper log monitoring and alerting mechanisms to detect any unusual access patterns or potential exploitation attempts related to authentication logging. This vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and data sanitization in security-critical components, particularly those involved in authentication and logging operations. The ATT&CK framework category T1070.001 covers "Indicator Removal on Host: File Deletion" but more directly relates to T1562.006 "Impair Defenses: Credential Access Tools" in how this vulnerability could be exploited to gain access to authentication data, which then enables further malicious activities through compromised credentials.