CVE-2021-46897 in CRX CodeRed Extensions
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
views.py in Wagtail CRX CodeRed Extensions (formerly CodeRed CMS or coderedcms) before 0.22.3 allows upward protected/..%2f..%2f path traversal when serving protected media.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-46897 affects Wagtail CRX CodeRed Extensions, formerly known as CodeRed CMS or coderedcms, specifically within the views.py module. This issue represents a path traversal vulnerability that exists in versions prior to 0.22.3, allowing attackers to access protected media files through crafted URL requests. The vulnerability manifests when the application processes requests containing upward traversal sequences, specifically leveraging the protected/..%2f..%2f pattern to navigate beyond the intended directory structure.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation and path sanitization within the media serving functionality of the CMS. When the application processes requests for protected media files, it fails to properly sanitize or validate the requested paths, enabling malicious users to exploit the URL encoding sequences to traverse directories above the protected media root. This weakness allows an attacker to potentially access sensitive files that should remain restricted, including configuration files, database files, or other system resources that are typically protected from direct access. The vulnerability specifically targets the protected media handling mechanism, which is designed to restrict access to certain files while allowing public access to others.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it can lead to unauthorized data access and potential information disclosure. Attackers can leverage this path traversal to access files that contain sensitive information such as database credentials, application configuration details, or other confidential data that should remain protected. The vulnerability affects the core security model of the CMS, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges or gain deeper access to the underlying system. This type of vulnerability can compromise the integrity and confidentiality of the entire content management system, especially when the protected media directory contains files with elevated access requirements.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-46897 involve upgrading to Wagtail CRX CodeRed Extensions version 0.22.3 or later, which includes proper path validation and sanitization measures. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as restricting file access permissions, implementing proper input validation at multiple layers, and conducting regular security audits of media serving components. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential access through the potential for unauthorized data extraction. Regular monitoring of file access logs and implementing web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to detect and prevent exploitation attempts.