Discover the details of CVE-2021-21813, a critical vulnerability in AT&T Labs Xmill 0.7 exposing systems to stack-buffer overflow attacks. Learn about the impact, technical aspects, and mitigation steps.
A stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in AT&T Labs Xmill 0.7 due to a lack of length checks, allowing an attacker to overflow a static buffer via a crafted file pattern.
Understanding CVE-2021-21813
This CVE discloses a critical vulnerability in the AT&T Labs Xmill 0.7 software, posing a high risk to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems.
What is CVE-2021-21813?
The vulnerability arises from mishandling user-controlled input, specifically the
filepattern
argument, leading to an exploitable stack-buffer overflow in the HandleFileArg function.
The Impact of CVE-2021-21813
With a CVSS base score of 7.8 and high severity ratings for confidentiality, integrity, and availability, CVE-2021-21813 can be exploited by an attacker with low privileges, locally.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-21813
This section delves into the technical specifics of the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The flaw stems from insufficient input validation, allowing an attacker to overwrite a static buffer and potentially execute arbitrary code.
Affected Systems and Versions
AT&T Labs Xmill 0.7 is vulnerable to this issue, impacting systems that utilize this specific version.
Exploitation Mechanism
By manipulating the
filepattern
argument, an attacker can trigger a buffer overflow, leading to the execution of malicious code.
Mitigation and Prevention
To secure systems from CVE-2021-21813, immediate actions and long-term security measures should be implemented.
Immediate Steps to Take
Users are advised to apply patches, restrict user input, and monitor for signs of exploitation or unauthorized access.
Long-Term Security Practices
Implement secure coding practices, conduct regular security assessments, and educate users on safe computing habits.
Patching and Updates
Vendor-issued patches and version updates should be promptly applied to remediate the vulnerability and enhance system security.