CVE-2021-20701 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A buffer overflow vulnerability in the Disk Agent CLUSTERPRO X 4.3 for Windows and earlier, EXPRESSCLUSTER X 4.3 for Windows and earlier, CLUSTERPRO X 4.3 SingleServerSafe for Windows and earlier, EXPRESSCLUSTER X 4.3 SingleServerSafe for Windows and earlier could allow an attacker to achieve remote code execution through a network.

Understanding CVE-2021-20701

This section provides insights into the impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies related to CVE-2021-20701.

What is CVE-2021-20701?

The CVE-2021-20701 vulnerability is identified as a buffer overflow issue in the Disk Agent of various NEC Corporation products, including CLUSTERPRO X and EXPRESSCLUSTER X 4.3 for Windows and earlier versions. Exploiting this vulnerability enables an attacker to execute malicious code remotely via a network.

The Impact of CVE-2021-20701

The presence of this vulnerability poses a significant risk as threat actors can potentially exploit it to gain unauthorized access to targeted systems, leading to severe consequences such as data breaches, system manipulation, and further network compromise.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-20701

This section explores the specifics of the vulnerability, including its description, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in CLUSTERPRO X 4.3 for Windows and earlier, EXPRESSCLUSTER X 4.3 for Windows and earlier, CLUSTERPRO X 4.3 SingleServerSafe for Windows and earlier, EXPRESSCLUSTER X 4.3 SingleServerSafe for Windows and earlier manifests as a buffer overflow, allowing threat actors to trigger remote code execution by sending malicious data through a network connection.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected products include CLUSTERPRO X and EXPRESSCLUSTER X 4.3 for Windows and earlier, along with their respective SingleServerSafe versions. Users of these products need to take immediate action to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

The exploitation of CVE-2021-20701 involves crafting a specific type of malicious data that surpasses the buffer length allocated by the Disk Agent on the affected NEC Corporation products. By submitting this data via a network, attackers can execute unauthorized code on the target system.

Mitigation and Prevention

In response to CVE-2021-20701, users are advised to implement immediate steps to enhance security posture and safeguard their systems against potential exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-20701, users should apply relevant security patches provided by NEC Corporation, restrict network access to vulnerable systems, and monitor for any suspicious network activity indicating exploitation attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

In the long run, organizations should prioritize robust security practices such as regular security audits, network segmentation, user awareness training, and timely software updates to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.

Patching and Updates

NEC Corporation may release security patches addressing CVE-2021-20701 to remediate the vulnerability. Users must promptly apply these patches to secure their systems effectively and prevent potential cyber threats.