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CVE-2021-25321 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Discover how CVE-2021-25321 impacts arpwatch, allowing local attackers to escalate privileges to root. Learn about affected systems, mitigation steps, and crucial security measures.

A UNIX Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following vulnerability in arpwatch of various SUSE and openSUSE products allows local attackers to escalate privileges to root. This CVE affects SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11-SP4-LTSS, SUSE Manager Server 4.0, SUSE OpenStack Cloud Crowbar 9, openSUSE Factory, and Leap 15.2 versions less than specified.

Understanding CVE-2021-25321

This vulnerability in arpwatch can be exploited by local attackers with control of the runtime user to potentially elevate their privileges to root level.

What is CVE-2021-25321?

CVE-2021-25321 is a vulnerability in arpwatch that permits local attackers to run arpwatch with escalated privileges, leading to a potential privilege escalation to root upon the next restart of arpwatch.

The Impact of CVE-2021-25321

The impact of this CVE is rated as HIGH, with a CVSS base score of 7.8. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized root access on affected systems, compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-25321

The technical details include the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows local attackers to exploit a UNIX Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following issue in arpwatch to escalate privileges to root.

Affected Systems and Versions

Products affected include SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11-SP4-LTSS, SUSE Manager Server 4.0, SUSE OpenStack Cloud Crowbar 9, openSUSE Factory, and Leap 15.2 with specific arpwatch versions detailed in the CVE.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with control of the runtime user can leverage the vulnerability to run arpwatch and potentially elevate privileges to root in subsequent arpwatch restarts.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2021-25321 requires immediate action and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

        Update arpwatch on affected systems to versions equal to or greater than the specified patched versions.
        Monitor system logs for any suspicious activities indicating privilege escalation attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

        Implement the principle of least privilege to restrict unnecessary elevated access rights.
        Regularly monitor and update software components to prevent known vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Check with the respective vendors for available patches and promptly apply them to secure your systems against potential attacks.

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