CVE-2021-28302 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

A stack overflow vulnerability in 'pupnp' before version 1.14.5 has been identified as CVE-2021-28302. This vulnerability can be exploited to cause a denial of service through a specific function, leading to a crash.

Understanding CVE-2021-28302

This section will cover the details of CVE-2021-28302, including its impact, technical description, affected systems, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2021-28302?

The CVE-2021-28302 vulnerability is a stack overflow issue in the pupnp software prior to version 1.14.5. Exploitation of this vulnerability can result in a denial of service condition by utilizing a particular function within the software.

The Impact of CVE-2021-28302

The impact of CVE-2021-28302 is the potential for a denial of service attack due to the stack overflow vulnerability. Attackers can crash the affected system by triggering the specific function linked to the vulnerability.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-28302

In this section, we will delve into the technical aspects of CVE-2021-28302, explaining the vulnerability description, affected systems, and how the exploitation is carried out.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in pupnp before version 1.14.5 results in a stack overflow by releasing a child node recursively using the ixmlNode_free() function. This recursive process leads to excessive stack space consumption, ultimately causing a system crash.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected system is any running instance of pupnp software version prior to 1.14.5. Systems with this version installed are vulnerable to exploitation of the CVE-2021-28302 stack overflow issue.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting CVE-2021-28302 involves triggering the Parser_parseDocument() function in the vulnerable version of pupnp. By recursively releasing child nodes through ixmlNode_free(), attackers can exhaust stack space, leading to a denial of service.

Mitigation and Prevention

To protect systems from the risks posed by CVE-2021-28302, immediate steps should be taken along with long-term security measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update pupnp to version 1.14.5 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activities that could indicate an ongoing attack.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and patches to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Implement network segmentation to isolate critical systems and reduce attack surfaces.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates for pupnp and other software components. Apply patches as soon as they are released to ensure protection against known vulnerabilities.