Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Akaunting 2.1.12 and earlier allowed a logged-in user to store cross-site scripting content through avatar image handling. If another user interacted with the affected content, browser-side code could run in that user’s session. The issue is fixed in Akaunting 2.1.13.
Executive priority
Treat this as a near-term web application remediation item. It is not described as actively exploited, but stored XSS can expose sensitive user data if an affected instance has untrusted or broad user access.
Technical view
This is a persistent XSS issue in user-supplied avatar image processing, tracked as CWE-79. The CVSS 3.1 vector is AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N, indicating network reachability, low attack complexity, required low privileges, and required user interaction.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely in self-hosted Akaunting deployments running version 2.1.12 or earlier with authenticated users able to upload or change avatar images.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. Exploitation requires an authenticated user path and user interaction by a victim viewing or interacting with stored avatar-related content.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE record and Rapid7 reference. The sources identify the affected product, vulnerable version range, weakness type, CVSS vector, and fixed version, but do not provide detailed patch mechanics or exploitation-in-the-wild evidence.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade Akaunting to version 2.1.13 or later.
- Check vendor guidance for any additional hardening or cleanup steps.
- Restrict avatar uploads to trusted users until upgraded.
- Review stored avatars uploaded before remediation for suspicious content.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Akaunting deployments and confirm their exact running versions.
- Confirm no production instance is running version 2.1.12 or earlier.
- Review recent avatar upload or profile update activity.
- Verify the deployed build includes the 2.1.13 fix or later.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-79: User-session and phishing behavior lookup
Client-side and session-facing weaknesses should be reviewed alongside initial-access and user-execution behaviors. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-36803 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 6.3 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N2.14.2Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
6.3MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.rapid7.com/blog/post/2021/07/27/multiple-open-source-web-app-vulnerabilities-fixed/CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.