CVE-2021-21410 : What You Need to Know
Learn about CVE-2021-21410 affecting Contiki-NG IoT devices. This high severity vulnerability allows attackers to trigger an out-of-bounds read issue in versions up to 4.6. Find mitigation steps here.
Contiki-NG, an open-source operating system for IoT devices, is affected by an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in versions up to 4.6. Attackers can exploit this issue with crafted 6LoWPAN packets, leading to potential data exposure. The CVSS score for this CVE is 8.2, indicating a high severity issue. This article provides insights into the impact, technical details, and mitigation steps for CVE-2021-21410.
Understanding CVE-2021-21410
This section discusses the details of the CVE-2021-21410 vulnerability in Contiki-NG.
What is CVE-2021-21410?
Contiki-NG, a cross-platform IoT operating system, is prone to an out-of-bounds read vulnerability triggered by malicious 6LoWPAN packets. The issue arises due to inadequate boundary checks in the IPv6 header decompression function.
The Impact of CVE-2021-21410
The vulnerability poses a significant threat, with a CVSS base score of 8.2, affecting confidentiality and potentially enabling attackers to access sensitive information.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-21410
This section delves into the technical aspects of CVE-2021-21410.
Vulnerability Description
The flaw in the uncompress_hdr_iphc function allows attackers to read beyond the packet buffer's limits by crafting compressed 6LoWPAN packets.
Affected Systems and Versions
Contiki-NG versions up to 4.6 are impacted by this vulnerability.
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit this flaw by sending specially crafted 6LoWPAN packets to target devices running Contiki-NG, leading to out-of-bounds read instances.
Mitigation and Prevention
This section highlights the measures to mitigate the CVE-2021-21410 vulnerability.
Immediate Steps to Take
Users are advised to apply patches released by the vendor once available or use workaround solutions to address the vulnerability.
Long-Term Security Practices
Implementing network segmentation, access control lists, and regular security updates can enhance the overall security posture.
Patching and Updates
Stay informed about security advisories from Contiki-NG and promptly apply patches to protect systems from potential exploits.