CVE-2021-32809: Ckeditor4 Clipboard Feature Vulnerability Allowing To Vulnerability
MODERATECVE-2021-32809 is a MODERATE (CVSS 4.6) clipboard feature vulnerability allowing to vulnerability (CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')) affecting Ckeditor4 libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves clipboard feature vulnerability allowing to inject arbitrary html into the editor using paste functionality. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 4.16.2.
CVE-2021-32809 at a Glance
Security Impact
CVSS: 4.6
The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N).
How to Fix CVE-2021-32809
To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Ckeditor4 dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.
npm install ckeditor4@4.16.2Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:
npm ls ckeditor4How to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2021-32809, inspect your project dependencies using npm:
npm ls ckeditor4Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Ckeditor4 in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 4.16.2), your application is affected.
Note: The npm ls ckeditor4 command inspects dependencies declared in your package.json and lockfile; it does not perform automated runtime dynamic scanning.
Technical Details
Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment. In Ckeditor4, 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
CVE-2021-32809 Affected Ckeditor4 Versions
1 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
ckeditor4
|
npm |
≥ 4.5.2
< 4.16.2
|
4.16.2
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2021-32809?
Which Ckeditor4 versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2021-32809?
Is ckeditor4 affected?
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-32809?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2021-32809?
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2021-32809?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-7889-rm5j-hpgg",
"modified" : "2022-02-08T21:01:48Z",
"published" : "2021-08-23T19:40:57Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2021-32809" ],
"summary" : "Clipboard feature vulnerability allowing to inject arbitrary HTML into the editor using paste functionality",
"details" : "### Affected packages\nThe vulnerability has been discovered in [clipboard](https://ckeditor.com/cke4/addon/clipboard) plugin. All plugins with [clipboard](https://ckeditor.com/cke4/addon/clipboard) plugin dependency are affected:\n\n* [clipboard](https://ckeditor.com/cke4/addon/clipboard)\n* [pastetext](https://ckeditor.com/cke4/addon/pastetext)\n* [pastetools](https://ckeditor.com/cke4/addon/pastetools)\n* [widget](https://ckeditor.com/cke4/addon/widget)\n* [uploadwidget](https://ckeditor.com/cke4/addon/uploadwidget)\n* [autolink](https://ckeditor.com/cke4/addon/autolink)\n* [tableselection](https://ckeditor.com/cke4/addon/tableselection)\n\n### Impact\nA potential vulnerability has been discovered in CKEditor 4 [Clipboard](https://ckeditor.com/cke4/addon/clipboard) package. The vulnerability allowed to abuse paste functionality using malformed HTML, which could result in injecting arbitrary HTML into the editor. It affects all users using the CKEditor 4 plugins listed above at version >= 4.5.2.\n\n### Patches\nThe problem has been recognized and patched. The fix will be available in version 4.16.2.\n\n### For more information\nEmail us at security@cksource.com if you have any questions or comments about this advisory.\n\n### Acknowledgements\nThe CKEditor 4 team would like to thank Anton Subbotin ([skavans](https://github.com/skavans)) for recognizing and reporting this vulnerability.\n",
"severity" : [ {
"type" : "CVSS_V3",
"score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N"
} ],
"affected" : [ {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "npm",
"name" : "ckeditor4"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "4.5.2"
}, {
"fixed" : "4.16.2"
} ]
} ]
} ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/ckeditor/ckeditor4/security/advisories/GHSA-7889-rm5j-hpgg"
}, {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-32809"
}, {
"type" : "PACKAGE",
"url" : "https://github.com/ckeditor/ckeditor4"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/NYA354LJP47KCVJMTUO77ZCX3ZK42G3T"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/UVOYN2WKDPLKCNILIGEZM236ABQASLGW"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/WAGNWHFIQAVCP537KFFS2A2GDG66J7XD"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2022.html"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2021.html"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-79", "CWE-94" ],
"severity" : "MODERATE",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2021-08-23T16:49:10Z",
"nvd_published_at" : "2021-08-12T17:15:00Z"
}
}