CVE-2021-28361 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Discover the impact of CVE-2021-28361, a vulnerability in Storage Performance Development Kit (SPDK) before 20.01.01 that can crash the iSCSI target with a NULL pointer dereference. Learn how to mitigate and prevent this issue.
A vulnerability has been discovered in Storage Performance Development Kit (SPDK) before version 20.01.01 that can lead to a NULL pointer dereference and crash in the iSCSI target. Malicious input in the form of a zero-length PDU can trigger this issue.
Understanding CVE-2021-28361
This section covers the details regarding the CVE-2021-28361 vulnerability.
What is CVE-2021-28361?
The CVE-2021-28361 is a vulnerability in SPDK that arises when an iSCSI target receives a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) with zero length, causing a crash due to a NULL pointer dereference.
The Impact of CVE-2021-28361
The impact of this vulnerability can be severe as it allows attackers to potentially crash an iSCSI target, leading to a denial of service condition.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-28361
This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE-2021-28361 vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability stems from inadequate handling of zero-length PDUs in the iSCSI target within SPDK versions prior to 20.01.01.
Affected Systems and Versions
SPDK versions earlier than 20.01.01 are affected by this vulnerability, making systems running these versions susceptible to exploitation.
Exploitation Mechanism
To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker needs to send a zero-length PDU to the iSCSI target, triggering a NULL pointer dereference and potentially crashing the target.
Mitigation and Prevention
In this section, we discuss the steps to mitigate and prevent the CVE-2021-28361 vulnerability.
Immediate Steps to Take
Users are recommended to update SPDK to version 20.01.01 or later to mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability. Additionally, monitoring network traffic for suspicious zero-length PDUs can help in identifying potential exploitation attempts.
Long-Term Security Practices
Implementing secure coding practices and regular security audits can help prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future. Promoting a security-conscious culture within the organization is crucial for overall risk mitigation.
Patching and Updates
Staying vigilant about SPDK releases and promptly applying security patches as soon as they are available is essential to ensure a secure software environment.