CVE-2021-45116: n/a in n/a
An issue was discovered in Django 2.2 before 2.2.26, 3.2 before 3.2.11, and 4.0 before 4.0.1. Due to leveraging the Django Template Language's variable resolution logic, the dictsort template filter was potentially vulnerable to information disclosure, or an unintended method call, if passed a suitably crafted key.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2021-45116 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting multiple versions of the Django web framework, specifically versions 2.2 prior to 2.2.26, 3.2 prior to 3.2.11, and 4.0 prior to 4.0.1. The vulnerability arises from the way the Django Template Language (DTL) handles variable resolution within the dictsort template filter. This filter is used to sort dictionaries by their keys or values in Django templates. Due to the internal logic of variable resolution, an attacker can craft a specially designed key that, when passed to dictsort, could lead to unintended method calls or information disclosure. This means that an attacker who can influence template context data or template rendering inputs could potentially access sensitive information or trigger unexpected behavior within the application. The vulnerability does not require authentication or user interaction, and it can be exploited remotely over the network. The CVSS v3.1 score of 7.5 reflects the high impact on confidentiality with no impact on integrity or availability. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation), indicating that the root cause is insufficient validation of input data passed to the template filter. No known public exploits are reported in the wild, but the risk remains significant due to the widespread use of Django in web applications and the ease of exploitation. The lack of patch links in the provided data suggests that users should refer to official Django release notes for the fixed versions mentioned.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2021-45116 can be substantial, especially for those relying on Django-based web applications to handle sensitive or regulated data. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of confidential information, potentially violating GDPR and other data protection regulations. This could result in legal penalties, reputational damage, and loss of customer trust. Since Django is widely used in various sectors including finance, healthcare, government, and e-commerce across Europe, the vulnerability could expose critical systems to data leakage. Additionally, unintended method calls triggered by the vulnerability could cause unpredictable application behavior, potentially leading to further security issues or operational disruptions. The vulnerability’s remote exploitability without authentication increases the risk of automated scanning and exploitation attempts, making timely remediation critical for European entities to maintain compliance and security posture.
Mitigation Recommendations
European organizations should immediately verify their Django versions and upgrade to the patched releases: 2.2.26 or later, 3.2.11 or later, and 4.0.1 or later. Beyond upgrading, developers should audit template usage to ensure that untrusted user input is never passed directly to template filters like dictsort without proper sanitization. Implement strict input validation and context isolation in templates to minimize the attack surface. Employ runtime application self-protection (RASP) or web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious template-related payloads. Conduct thorough code reviews and penetration testing focusing on template injection vectors. Maintain an inventory of Django applications and monitor for unusual template rendering errors or information leakage indicators. Finally, ensure that security teams are aware of this vulnerability and incorporate it into vulnerability management and incident response plans.
Affected Countries
Germany, France, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Belgium, Poland, Ireland
CVE-2021-45116: n/a in n/a
Description
An issue was discovered in Django 2.2 before 2.2.26, 3.2 before 3.2.11, and 4.0 before 4.0.1. Due to leveraging the Django Template Language's variable resolution logic, the dictsort template filter was potentially vulnerable to information disclosure, or an unintended method call, if passed a suitably crafted key.
AI-Powered Analysis
Technical Analysis
CVE-2021-45116 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting multiple versions of the Django web framework, specifically versions 2.2 prior to 2.2.26, 3.2 prior to 3.2.11, and 4.0 prior to 4.0.1. The vulnerability arises from the way the Django Template Language (DTL) handles variable resolution within the dictsort template filter. This filter is used to sort dictionaries by their keys or values in Django templates. Due to the internal logic of variable resolution, an attacker can craft a specially designed key that, when passed to dictsort, could lead to unintended method calls or information disclosure. This means that an attacker who can influence template context data or template rendering inputs could potentially access sensitive information or trigger unexpected behavior within the application. The vulnerability does not require authentication or user interaction, and it can be exploited remotely over the network. The CVSS v3.1 score of 7.5 reflects the high impact on confidentiality with no impact on integrity or availability. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation), indicating that the root cause is insufficient validation of input data passed to the template filter. No known public exploits are reported in the wild, but the risk remains significant due to the widespread use of Django in web applications and the ease of exploitation. The lack of patch links in the provided data suggests that users should refer to official Django release notes for the fixed versions mentioned.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2021-45116 can be substantial, especially for those relying on Django-based web applications to handle sensitive or regulated data. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of confidential information, potentially violating GDPR and other data protection regulations. This could result in legal penalties, reputational damage, and loss of customer trust. Since Django is widely used in various sectors including finance, healthcare, government, and e-commerce across Europe, the vulnerability could expose critical systems to data leakage. Additionally, unintended method calls triggered by the vulnerability could cause unpredictable application behavior, potentially leading to further security issues or operational disruptions. The vulnerability’s remote exploitability without authentication increases the risk of automated scanning and exploitation attempts, making timely remediation critical for European entities to maintain compliance and security posture.
Mitigation Recommendations
European organizations should immediately verify their Django versions and upgrade to the patched releases: 2.2.26 or later, 3.2.11 or later, and 4.0.1 or later. Beyond upgrading, developers should audit template usage to ensure that untrusted user input is never passed directly to template filters like dictsort without proper sanitization. Implement strict input validation and context isolation in templates to minimize the attack surface. Employ runtime application self-protection (RASP) or web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious template-related payloads. Conduct thorough code reviews and penetration testing focusing on template injection vectors. Maintain an inventory of Django applications and monitor for unusual template rendering errors or information leakage indicators. Finally, ensure that security teams are aware of this vulnerability and incorporate it into vulnerability management and incident response plans.
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Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.1
- Assigner Short Name
- mitre
- Date Reserved
- 2021-12-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Cisa Enriched
- true
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 682f725b0acd01a2492647d3
Added to database: 5/22/2025, 6:52:11 PM
Last enriched: 7/8/2025, 6:55:13 AM
Last updated: 8/17/2025, 2:11:03 AM
Views: 14
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