Cloud Defense Logo

Products

Solutions

Company

Book A Live Demo

CVE-2021-21813 : Security Advisory and Response

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.

Popular CVEs

CVE Id

Published Date

Is your System Free of Underlying Vulnerabilities?
Find Out Now