CVE-2021-21946 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Accusoft ImageGear 19.10 is impacted by two heap-based buffer overflow vulnerabilities in the JPEG-JFIF lossless Huffman image parser functionality. These vulnerabilities can be exploited by an attacker using a specially-crafted file to trigger a heap buffer overflow. The severity of these vulnerabilities is rated as Critical with a CVSS base score of 9.8.

Understanding CVE-2021-21946

This CVE details two heap-based buffer overflow vulnerabilities in the JPEG-JFIF lossless Huffman image parser functionality of Accusoft ImageGear 19.10.

What is CVE-2021-21946?

The CVE-2021-21946 involves heap-based buffer overflow vulnerabilities in ImageGear 19.10 due to the processing of specially-crafted JPEG-JFIF files that can be exploited by an attacker.

The Impact of CVE-2021-21946

The vulnerabilities can lead to a heap buffer overflow, allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary code and potentially take control of affected systems. The severity is rated as Critical with high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-21946

These are the technical details regarding the CVE-2021-21946 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerabilities result from improper handling of JPEG-JFIF files, leading to heap-based buffer overflows when processing

SOF3

segments with precision lower than 9.

Affected Systems and Versions

Accusoft ImageGear 19.10 is the only confirmed affected version by these CVEs.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerabilities can be exploited by an attacker providing a specially-crafted JPEG-JFIF file to trigger the heap buffer overflow in the ImageGear software.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-21946, consider the following steps.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update to the latest version of Accusoft ImageGear to eliminate the vulnerabilities.
Avoid opening untrusted JPEG-JFIF files from unknown or unverified sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch your software to prevent known vulnerabilities like buffer overflows.
Implement network security measures to detect and block malicious file uploads.

Patching and Updates

Accusoft may release security patches to address these vulnerabilities. Stay informed about updates and apply them promptly to secure your systems.