CVE-2021-27591 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

SAP SE's SAP 3D Visual Enterprise Viewer version 9 is affected by a vulnerability that causes the application to crash when opening manipulated PDF files from untrusted sources.

Understanding CVE-2021-27591

This CVE involves an improper input validation issue in SAP 3D Visual Enterprise Viewer version 9, impacting the application's availability.

What is CVE-2021-27591?

Opening malicious PDF files in SAP 3D Visual Enterprise Viewer version 9 results in the application crashing and becoming temporarily unavailable until restarted.

The Impact of CVE-2021-27591

The vulnerability poses a medium severity risk, with a CVSS base score of 4.3. Although it requires user interaction, the attack complexity is low, affecting the application's availability.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-27591

This section delves into the specific technical aspects of the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from improper input validation, allowing attackers to exploit the application by sending manipulated PDF files.

Affected Systems and Versions

SAP 3D Visual Enterprise Viewer version 9 is the only confirmed affected version by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

By tricking a user into opening a specially crafted PDF file, attackers can crash SAP 3D Visual Enterprise Viewer version 9 and disrupt its availability.

Mitigation and Prevention

Here's how you can address and prevent the risks associated with CVE-2021-27591.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users should refrain from opening PDF files from untrusted or unknown sources to mitigate the risk of application crashes.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strict input validation mechanisms in applications to prevent similar vulnerabilities and enhance overall security posture.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that SAP 3D Visual Enterprise Viewer is updated to a version that addresses this vulnerability promptly.