CVE-2021-22902 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis
Discover the impact of CVE-2021-22902, a denial of service vulnerability in the Action Dispatch Mime type parser of the actionpack ruby gem. Learn about affected versions and mitigation steps.
A denial of service vulnerability was discovered in the Action Dispatch Mime type parser in the actionpack ruby gem, affecting versions before 6.0.3.7 and 6.1.3.2. Crafted Accept headers could trigger catastrophic backtracking in the regular expression engine.
Understanding CVE-2021-22902
This CVE involves a potential denial of service vulnerability in the Mime type parser of Action Dispatch in the Rails actionpack ruby gem.
What is CVE-2021-22902?
The CVE-2021-22902 vulnerability is a result of the mishandling of certain Accept headers causing excessive backtracking in regular expressions, leading to potential denial of service.
The Impact of CVE-2021-22902
Exploitation can result in a denial of service condition, affecting the availability and performance of Rails web applications.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-22902
The following technical details outline the vulnerability, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism.
Vulnerability Description
The flaw in the Mime type parser of Action Dispatch allows attackers to induce catastrophic backtracking, impacting system availability.
Affected Systems and Versions
Rails actionpack gem versions prior to 6.0.3.7 and 6.1.3.2 are vulnerable to this denial of service issue.
Exploitation Mechanism
Crafted Accept headers exploit the Mime type parser, leading to potential denial of service via regular expression engine.
Mitigation and Prevention
To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-22902, immediate and long-term preventive measures can be implemented.
Immediate Steps to Take
Users are advised to upgrade Rails actionpack gem to versions 6.0.3.7 or 6.1.3.2 to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.
Long-Term Security Practices
Implement strict input validation, monitor and restrict incoming traffic, and stay updated on security advisories to enhance overall system security.
Patching and Updates
Regularly apply security patches and updates provided by the Rails framework to address known vulnerabilities and enhance system resilience.