CVE-2021-25973: Publify core Publify `guest` Role Users Can Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-x24j-87x9-jvv5
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CVSS 6.5
CWE-669 CWE-285 CWE-863
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2021-25973 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.5) publify `guest` role users can vulnerability (CWE-669: Incorrect Resource Transfer Between Spheres) affecting Publify core libraries in the RubyGems ecosystem. The issue involves publify `guest` role users can self-register even when the admin does not allow it. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 9.2.5.

CVE-2021-25973 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2021-25973
GHSA Identifier GHSA-x24j-87x9-jvv5
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.5
CWE Classification CWE-669: Incorrect Resource Transfer Between Spheres
Affected Product Publify core
Package Ecosystem RubyGems
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.5

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality Low (C:L)
Integrity Low (I:L)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2021-25973

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Publify core dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

publify_core fixed: 9.2.5 
Upgrade publify_core to 9.2.5
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

inspect dependencies for publify_core

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2021-25973, inspect your project dependencies for Publify core:

inspect dependencies for publify_core

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Publify core in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 9.2.5), your application is affected.

Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-669: Incorrect Resource Transfer Between Spheres, where the product does not properly transfer a resource/behavior to another sphere, or improperly imports a resource/behavior from another sphere, in a manner that provides unintended control over that resource. In Publify core, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

In Publify, 9.0.0.pre1 to 9.2.4 are vulnerable to Improper Access Control. `guest` role users can self-register even when the admin does not allow it. This happens due to front-end restriction only.

CVE-2021-25973 Affected Publify core Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
9.2.5
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
publify_core
gem/publify_core
RubyGems
≥ 9.0.0.pre1
< 9.2.5
9.2.5

References

NVD — CVE-2021-25973 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-25973
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/publify/publify/commit/3447e0241e921b65f6eb1090453d8ea73e98387e
Publify core Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/publify/publify
Publify core Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/rubysec/ruby-advisory-db/blob/master/gems/publify_core/CVE-2021-25973.yml
www.whitesourcesoftware.com/vulnerability-datab... WEB
https://www.whitesourcesoftware.com/vulnerability-database/CVE-2021-25973

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-25973?
CVE-2021-25973 is a security vulnerability in Publify core involving Publify `guest` role users can self-register even when the admin does not allow it under CWE-669: Incorrect Resource Transfer Between Spheres.
Which Publify core versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 9.2.5 across affected packages: publify_core.
What version fixes CVE-2021-25973?
Upgrading to 9.2.5 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is publify_core affected?
Yes, publify_core is affected in releases prior to 9.2.5. Upgrade your dependency to 9.2.5 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-25973?
CVE-2021-25973 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2021-25973?
CVE-2021-25973 is classified under CWE-669: Incorrect Resource Transfer Between Spheres (The product does not properly transfer a resource/behavior to another sphere, or improperly imports a resource/behavior from another sphere, in a manner that provides unintended control over that resource.).
How can I check RubyGems dependencies for CVE-2021-25973?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for publify_core'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-x24j-87x9-jvv5",
  "modified" : "2022-08-11T22:06:27Z",
  "published" : "2021-11-03T17:34:22Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2021-25973" ],
  "summary" : "Publify `guest` role users can self-register even when the admin does not allow it",
  "details" : "In Publify, 9.0.0.pre1 to 9.2.4 are vulnerable to Improper Access Control. `guest` role users can self-register even when the admin does not allow it. This happens due to front-end restriction only.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "RubyGems",
      "name" : "publify_core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "9.0.0.pre1"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "9.2.5"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-25973"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/publify/publify/commit/3447e0241e921b65f6eb1090453d8ea73e98387e"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/publify/publify"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/rubysec/ruby-advisory-db/blob/master/gems/publify_core/CVE-2021-25973.yml"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.whitesourcesoftware.com/vulnerability-database/CVE-2021-25973"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-285", "CWE-669", "CWE-863" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2021-11-03T14:44:37Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2021-11-02T07:15:00Z"
  }
}