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CVE-2021-38295 Apache CouchDB <= 3.1.1 privilege escalation


From: Jan Lehnardt <jan () apache org>
Date: Tue, 12 Oct 2021 10:56:13 +0200

Description
===========

A malicious user with permission to create documents in a
database is able to attach a HTML attachment to a document.
If a CouchDB admin opens that attachment in a browser, e.g.
via the CouchDB admin interface Fauxton, any JavaScript code
embedded in that HTML attachment will be executed within the
security context of that admin. A similar route is available
with thealready deprecated `_show` and `_list` functionality.

This *privilege escalation* vulnerability allows an attacker
to add or remove data in any database or make configuration
changes.

Mitigation
==========

CouchDB 3.2.0  and onwards adds `Content-Security-Policy`
headers for all attachment, `_show` and `_list` requests.
This breaks certain niche use-cases and there are
configuration options to restore the previous behaviour for
those who need it.

CouchDB 3.1.2 defaults to the previous behaviour, but adds
configuration options to turn `Content-Security-Policy` headers
on for all affected requests.


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