CVE-2021-28181 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2021-28181, a medium severity buffer overflow vulnerability in ASUS BMC's firmware, impacting various ASUS products. Find out affected systems, exploitation details, and mitigation steps.
This article provides an in-depth analysis of CVE-2021-28181, a vulnerability found in ASUS BMC's firmware related to a buffer overflow in the Remote video configuration setting.
Understanding CVE-2021-28181
CVE-2021-28181 is a vulnerability in ASUS BMC's firmware that allows remote attackers to create a buffer overflow due to inadequate string length verification, resulting in the abnormal termination of the Web service.
What is CVE-2021-28181?
The vulnerability stems from a specific function in ASUS BMC's firmware Web management page, where user-entered string lengths are not properly verified, leading to a buffer overflow.
The Impact of CVE-2021-28181
The impact of CVE-2021-28181 is rated as medium severity. Remote attackers with high privileges can exploit this vulnerability to disrupt the Web service.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-28181
The buffer overflow vulnerability allows for remote attackers to terminate the Web service by taking advantage of inadequate string length verification.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability arises in the Remote video configuration setting of ASUS BMC's firmware, enabling unauthorized users to create a buffer overflow.
Affected Systems and Versions
ASUS products including BMC firmware for Z10PR-D16 (version 1.14.51), ASMB8-iKVM (version 1.14.51), and Z10PE-D16 WS (version 1.14.2) are impacted.
Exploitation Mechanism
Remote attackers can exploit the buffer overflow vulnerability by leveraging the lack of string length verification to disrupt the Web service.
Mitigation and Prevention
To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-28181, it is crucial to take immediate steps, implement long-term security practices, and apply necessary patches and updates.
Immediate Steps to Take
Updating the affected BMC firmware to the patched versions is essential:
- Z10PR-D16 1.16.1
- ASMB8-iKVM 1.16.1
- Z10PE-D16 WS 1.16.1
Long-Term Security Practices
Incorporating secure coding practices and regular security audits can help prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.
Patching and Updates
Regularly checking for and applying firmware updates released by ASUS can help protect against known vulnerabilities.