CVE-2021-21796 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Discover the impact of CVE-2021-21796, a high-severity use-after-free vulnerability in Nitro Pro PDF's JavaScript implementation. Learn how it allows attackers to execute code through crafted documents.
A use-after-free vulnerability has been discovered in Nitro Pro PDF's JavaScript implementation, allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary code through a specially crafted document. This vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 8.8, indicating a high severity.
Understanding CVE-2021-21796
CVE-2021-21796 is a critical use-after-free vulnerability in Nitro Pro PDF, enabling attackers to exploit the application through maliciously crafted documents.
What is CVE-2021-21796?
CVE-2021-21796 is an exploitable use-after-free vulnerability in Nitro Pro PDF's JavaScript implementation. By tricking a user into opening a crafted document, an attacker can execute arbitrary code on the application.
The Impact of CVE-2021-21796
This vulnerability has a base score of 8.8, with high severity ratings for confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts. It requires user interaction to be exploited, making it a significant security concern.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-21796
CVE-2021-21796 affects Nitro Pro versions 13.31.0.605 and 13.33.2.645. The vulnerability results from a use-after-free issue in the JavaScript code of the application.
Vulnerability Description
A specially crafted document can lead to the destruction and subsequent reuse of an object, causing a use-after-free condition that may be leveraged for code execution.
Affected Systems and Versions
Nitro Pro versions 13.31.0.605 and 13.33.2.645 are confirmed to be affected by this vulnerability.
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit CVE-2021-21796 by persuading users to open a malicious document, triggering the use-after-free vulnerability within the application.
Mitigation and Prevention
To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-21796, users are advised to take immediate action and implement long-term security practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
Users should exercise caution when opening PDF documents from untrusted sources and consider applying security updates promptly.
Long-Term Security Practices
Regularly updating Nitro Pro to the latest version can help safeguard against known vulnerabilities and improve overall security posture.
Patching and Updates
Vendor-issued patches should be applied as soon as they are available to ensure that systems are protected from potential exploits.