CVE-2021-22539 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A detailed overview of CVE-2021-22539 affecting VSCode-Bazel, where an attacker can execute any executable on the system through malicious Bazel config files in VSCode-Bazel.

Understanding CVE-2021-22539

This section dives into the impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies related to CVE-2021-22539.

What is CVE-2021-22539?

CVE-2021-22539 allows an attacker to execute arbitrary executables on the system by placing a crafted JSON config file in the project folder, leveraging a vulnerability in VSCode-Bazel.

The Impact of CVE-2021-22539

The attack complexity is low, but the availability impact is high, with high confidentiality and integrity impacts as well. This vulnerability requires low privileges and user interaction is required.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-22539

This section covers the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

An attacker can exploit CVE-2021-22539 by pointing a custom executable in a crafted JSON config file, allowing the execution of arbitrary executables via VSCode-Bazel.

Affected Systems and Versions

VSCode-Bazel versions up to 0.4.0 are affected by this vulnerability, enabling threat actors to launch malicious executables.

Exploitation Mechanism

By manipulating a certain configuration file, attackers can trick VSCode-Bazel into executing unauthorized executables, leading to significant security risks.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section provides insights into immediate steps to take, long-term security practices, and the importance of patching and updates.

Immediate Steps to Take

Immediately upgrade VSCode-Bazel to version 0.4.1 or above to mitigate the risk of exploitation and prevent unauthorized code execution.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and audit configurations and permissions to prevent similar vulnerabilities. Educate users on safe coding practices and secure file handling protocols.

Patching and Updates

Stay updated with security advisories and promptly apply patches released by the vendor to address known vulnerabilities in VSCode-Bazel.