# CVE-2021-42671: Missing authorization in n/a

> Unauthenticated attackers can bypass access controls to read all uploaded files in the Engineers Online Portal application.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 5 Nov 2021
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-qv2q-frhr-phx3

## What is CVE-2021-42671?

CVE-2021-42671 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in n/a, published on 5 Nov 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

An incorrect access control vulnerability exists in Sourcecodester Engineers Online Portal in PHP in nia_munoz_monitoring_system/admin/uploads. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability in order to bypass access controls and access all the files uploaded to the web server without the need of authentication or authorization.

Weakness: CWE-425 (Direct Request)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-42671?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Engineers Online Portal Project Engineers Online Portal.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-42671?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-42671 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-42671 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-42671 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- CVE-2021-42671 - Broken access control vulnerability in the Engineers online portal system.  (github_poc): https://github.com/0xDeku/CVE-2021-42671

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2021-42665](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-42665/): SQL injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-42668](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-42668/): SQL injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-42669](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-42669/): File upload in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-42670](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-42670/): SQL injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-43437](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-43437/): Other in n/a (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-42671 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-42671 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in n/a, published on 5 Nov 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-42671 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: n/a. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-42671/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-42671/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-42671
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-42671
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-42671

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-42671/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.