Discover the impact of CVE-2021-29510, a Pydantic vulnerability causing an infinite loop in specific versions. Learn about affected systems, exploitation, and mitigation strategies.
Pydantic, a Python data validation library, was found to have a vulnerability in certain versions that could result in an infinite loop when specific values are passed to
datetime
or date
fields. This could lead to high CPU usage, causing the validation process to run indefinitely. This CVE has a low CVSS base score of 3.3.
Understanding CVE-2021-29510
This section provides insights into the nature of the CVE-2021-29510 vulnerability.
What is CVE-2021-29510?
Pydantic is a library for data validation and type hinting in Python. The CVE-2021-29510 arises from passing specific values like
'infinity'
, 'inf'
, or float('inf')
to datetime
or date
fields in affected versions of Pydantic. This triggers an infinite loop, causing 100% CPU usage.
The Impact of CVE-2021-29510
The impact of this CVE is rated as low, with no confidentiality or integrity impact. However, it can result in a denial-of-service condition due to the consumption of system resources.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-29510
This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE-2021-29510 vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability allows an attacker to create an infinite loop by passing specific values to date and time fields, leading to a resource exhaustion attack.
Affected Systems and Versions
Pydantic versions affected by this vulnerability include >= 1.8.0 and < 1.8.2, >= 1.7.0 and < 1.7.4, and < 1.6.2.
Exploitation Mechanism
By passing
'infinity'
, 'inf'
, or float('inf')
to datetime
or date
fields, an attacker can trigger the infinite loop, causing CPU usage to spike.
Mitigation and Prevention
Learn how to mitigate and prevent potential risks associated with CVE-2021-29510.
Immediate Steps to Take
Upgrade to Pydantic versions v1.8.2, v1.7.4, or v1.6.2 to mitigate the vulnerability. If upgrading is not possible, consider using validators to prevent passing infinite values.
Long-Term Security Practices
Incorporate regular software updates and security checks to identify and address vulnerabilities promptly.
Patching and Updates
Stay informed about patch releases and security advisories from Pydantic to ensure your systems are protected.