CVE-2021-44201 in Cyber Protect
Summary
by MITRE • 11/29/2021
Cross-site scripting (XSS) was possible in notification pop-ups. The following products are affected: Acronis Cyber Protect 15 (Windows, Linux) before build 28035
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/03/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-44201 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the notification pop-up functionality of Acronis Cyber Protect 15 across both Windows and Linux platforms. This issue affects all versions prior to build 28035, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this backup and recovery solution. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the notification system, allowing malicious actors to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of the victim's browser session. The flaw specifically impacts the user interface elements responsible for displaying system notifications, which are commonly used to communicate important alerts, status updates, and system messages to administrators and end users. This XSS vulnerability can be exploited by attackers who gain the ability to inject malicious code through notification content, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive system information, session hijacking, or the execution of arbitrary commands within the victim's browser environment.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data that appears in notification pop-ups. The flaw falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities, where the application fails to validate or encode user input before rendering it in the browser context. The attack vector typically involves an attacker who can influence notification content through legitimate administrative functions or by compromising a system component that generates notifications. When a victim views a malicious notification, the injected script executes in their browser, potentially stealing session cookies, redirecting to malicious sites, or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of the victim. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because notifications are often displayed prominently and frequently, increasing the attack surface and the likelihood of successful exploitation. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft, data exfiltration, or privilege escalation within the application's security boundaries.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-44201 is substantial for organizations using Acronis Cyber Protect 15, as it undermines the security of their backup and recovery infrastructure. System administrators who rely on notification pop-ups for monitoring and alerting may unknowingly expose themselves to attacks that could compromise their entire backup environment. The vulnerability affects both Windows and Linux implementations, indicating a widespread issue that impacts diverse deployment scenarios and organizational environments. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to backup systems, potential data loss, or the ability for attackers to manipulate backup operations through notification-based attacks. The attack surface is further expanded because notification systems are often used for critical alerts and security events, making them prime targets for exploitation. Additionally, the vulnerability can be leveraged in combination with other attack vectors, potentially enabling more complex attack chains that could lead to complete system compromise or lateral movement within the network infrastructure.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, including updating to build 28035 or later versions of Acronis Cyber Protect 15 where the XSS protection has been remediated. System administrators should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts or compromised notification systems within their environment. The implementation of web application firewalls and additional input validation measures can provide temporary protection while awaiting official patches. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual notification patterns or attempts to inject malicious content into the system. Organizations should also review their backup and recovery procedures to ensure that notification systems are properly secured and that administrators are trained to recognize potential XSS attack indicators. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to verify that the fix does not introduce compatibility issues with existing notification configurations and that all notification content is properly sanitized before display. Regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the backup infrastructure and to maintain overall system security posture. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of securing user interface components and notification systems, as they often represent accessible attack surfaces that can be exploited to gain unauthorized access to critical system resources.