CVE-2021-29511 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

EVM, a pure Rust implementation of Ethereum Virtual Machine, was found to be vulnerable to memory over-allocation, allowing attackers to execute a denial-of-service attack. Here is what you need to know about CVE-2021-29511.

Understanding CVE-2021-29511

This section provides insights into the vulnerability and its impact.

What is CVE-2021-29511?

evm is a Rust crate implementation of the Ethereum Virtual Machine. The vulnerability in versions prior to 0.21.1, 0.22.0, 0.23.0, 0.24.0, and 0.25.0 allows over-allocation of memory, enabling a potential denial-of-service attack. The issue was addressed with commit 19ade85.

The Impact of CVE-2021-29511

The CVSS score for CVE-2021-29511 is 6.5 (Medium severity). The attack requires low privileges and no user interaction, with a high impact on availability.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-29511

Explore the specifics of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

evmspecific EVM opcodes can over-allocate memory during memory operations, exposing the system to denial-of-service threats.

Affected Systems and Versions

Versions < 0.21.1, = 0.22.0, = 0.23.0, = 0.24.0, = 0.25.0 of the

evm

crate are impacted by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can leverage the flaw in memory operations to initiate denial-of-service attacks on systems running vulnerable versions of the

evm

crate.

Mitigation and Prevention

Learn how to address and prevent CVE-2021-29511.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade to versions == 0.21.1, == 0.23.1, == 0.24.1, == 0.25.1, or >= 0.26.1 of the

evm

crate to mitigate the vulnerability. No workarounds are available.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement a robust software development lifecycle and follow secure coding practices to prevent memory over-allocation vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay updated with security advisories and promptly apply patches to address known vulnerabilities in the

evm

crate.