CVE-2021-41131
7.5 · HIGHOverview
CVE-2021-41131 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting linuxfoundation the_update_framework. It was published on October 19, 2021 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH).
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5, rated HIGH. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.
Technical Description
python-tuf is a Python reference implementation of The Update Framework (TUF). In both clients (`tuf/client` and `tuf/ngclient`), there is a path traversal vulnerability that in the worst case can overwrite files ending in `.json` anywhere on the client system on a call to `get_one_valid_targetinfo()`. It occurs because the rolename is used to form the filename, and may contain path traversal characters (ie `../../name.json`). The impact is mitigated by a few facts: It only affects implementations that allow arbitrary rolename selection for delegated targets metadata, The attack requires the ability to A) insert new metadata for the path-traversing role and B) get the role delegated by an existing targets metadata, The written file content is heavily restricted since it needs to be a valid, signed targets file. The file extension is always .json. A fix is available in version 0.19 or newer. There are no workarounds that do not require code changes. Clients can restrict the allowed char
Remediation
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from linuxfoundation. Update the_update_framework to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| linuxfoundation | the_update_framework | 0 | Affected |
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2021-41131?
CVE-2021-41131 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting linuxfoundation the_update_framework. It was published on October 19, 2021 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH).
How severe is CVE-2021-41131?
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5, rated HIGH. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.
How do I fix or remediate CVE-2021-41131?
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from linuxfoundation. Update the_update_framework to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2021-41131?
CyberStrike's AI-powered security agents can automatically detect CVE-2021-41131 across your infrastructure using autonomous pentesting, DAST scanning, and HackBrowser. The platform continuously monitors for known vulnerabilities and provides actionable remediation guidance prioritized by real-world exploitability.
How CyberStrike Helps
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