CVE-2021-36738: Cross-Site Scripting in Apache Pluto
Summary
CVE-2021-36738: Cross-site Scripting in Apache Pluto. Affects org.apache.portals.pluto:pluto-portal versions < 3.1.1. Fixed in 3.1.1. How to fix ↓
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Background
The Apache Pluto Applicant MVCBean CDI portlet is a component of the Apache Pluto project. It is designed to provide a framework for building Java-based web applications that can be deployed as portlets in a portal server. The portlet allows users to submit input through various fields, which are then processed by the application. However, the input fields in the JSP version of the portlet are vulnerable to Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in the Apache Pluto Applicant MVCBean CDI portlet allows an attacker to inject malicious scripts into the application, which are then executed in the context of the user's browser. This can lead to various security issues, such as stealing sensitive information, performing actions on behalf of the user, or redirecting the user to malicious websites. The vulnerability has been assigned the CVE identifier CVE-2021-36738 and has a severity level of MODERATE according to the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS). The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79, which is the category for Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
3.1.1
This is the first release that contains the fix.
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Workaround
There is no specific workaround mentioned for this vulnerability. However, as a general best practice, developers should always sanitize and validate user input before processing it to prevent Cross-Site Scripting attacks. This can be done by implementing input validation routines and using output encoding techniques to ensure that user-supplied data is treated as plain text and not interpreted as executable code.
Conclusion
The Apache Pluto Applicant MVCBean CDI portlet is vulnerable to Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks in its JSP version. To mitigate this vulnerability, users should update to version 3.1.1 of the applicant-mvcbean-cdi-jsp-portlet.war artifact. It is important to regularly monitor and address security vulnerabilities in your applications to ensure the integrity and safety of your users' data. For further support on vulnerability remediation, you can reach out to DevNack.com.
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FAQ
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) is a type of security vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. These scripts can be used to steal sensitive information, perform actions on behalf of the user, or redirect the user to malicious websites.
If your application uses the JSP version of the Apache Pluto Applicant MVCBean CDI portlet and allows user input through its fields, it is vulnerable to Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks. This can potentially lead to security breaches and compromise the integrity of your application.
The vulnerability has a severity level of MODERATE according to the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS). While it is not considered critical, it still poses a significant risk to the security of your application and should be addressed promptly.
You can use the Vulert Playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability. Simply provide the pom.xml file of your application, and Vulert will analyze it to identify any open-source vulnerabilities, including CVE-2021-36738.
You can visit the official Apache Pluto website at https://portals.apache.org/pluto/ for more information about the project and its security updates. The Apache Pluto community actively maintains and releases patches for security vulnerabilities, so it is recommended to stay updated with the latest releases.
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