Discover the impact of CVE-2021-21974, a heap-overflow vulnerability in OpenSLP affecting VMware ESXi & Cloud Foundation. Learn about the technical details and mitigation steps.
OpenSLP as used in VMware ESXi and VMware Cloud Foundation has a heap-overflow vulnerability that allows remote code execution by triggering the issue. Find out the impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies below.
Understanding CVE-2021-21974
This section provides insights into the OpenSLP heap-overflow vulnerability affecting VMware ESXi and VMware Cloud Foundation.
What is CVE-2021-21974?
CVE-2021-21974 refers to a heap-overflow vulnerability in OpenSLP present in VMware ESXi versions 7.0, 6.7, and 6.5, as well as VMware Cloud Foundation versions 4.x and 3.x. An attacker within the same network segment with access to port 427 can exploit this issue.
The Impact of CVE-2021-21974
The vulnerability in OpenSLP could be exploited by a malicious actor to execute remote code on the affected VMware ESXi and VMware Cloud Foundation systems. This could lead to a complete compromise of the system's security.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-21974
Explore the specific technical aspects of the CVE-2021-21974 vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The heap-overflow vulnerability in OpenSLP enables attackers to trigger remote code execution on VMware ESXi and VMware Cloud Foundation systems by targeting port 427.
Affected Systems and Versions
VMware ESXi versions 7.0 (before ESXi70U1c-17325551), 6.7 (before ESXi670-202102401-SG), 6.5 (before ESXi650-202102101-SG), and VMware Cloud Foundation versions 4.x (before 4.2) and 3.x are impacted by this vulnerability.
Exploitation Mechanism
A threat actor residing within the same network segment as the vulnerable ESXi system can exploit the OpenSLP heap-overflow issue by gaining access to port 427, potentially resulting in remote code execution.
Mitigation and Prevention
Learn how to protect your VMware ESXi and VMware Cloud Foundation systems from CVE-2021-21974.
Immediate Steps to Take
Immediately apply patches provided by VMware to address the OpenSLP vulnerability in the affected versions. Restrict network access to vulnerable systems to reduce the risk of exploitation.
Long-Term Security Practices
Regularly monitor for security advisories from VMware and other relevant sources. Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potential threats.
Patching and Updates
Stay up to date with security patches and updates released by VMware to safeguard your systems against known vulnerabilities like CVE-2021-21974.