CVE-2021-29998 : Security Advisory and Response

An issue was discovered in Wind River VxWorks before 6.5 where there is a possible heap overflow in the DHCP client.

Understanding CVE-2021-29998

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in Wind River VxWorks that could potentially lead to a heap overflow in the DHCP client.

What is CVE-2021-29998?

CVE-2021-29998 is a security vulnerability found in Wind River VxWorks versions prior to 6.5. It allows for a potential heap overflow within the DHCP client, posing a security risk.

The Impact of CVE-2021-29998

The impact of this CVE is significant as it could be exploited by attackers to trigger a heap overflow, potentially leading to a denial of service or arbitrary code execution.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-29998

This section provides more in-depth technical details about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Wind River VxWorks before version 6.5 allows for a heap overflow in the DHCP client, which could be exploited by malicious actors.

Affected Systems and Versions

All versions of Wind River VxWorks that are prior to 6.5 are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted DHCP packets to trigger a heap overflow and potentially execute arbitrary code.

Mitigation and Prevention

Understanding how to mitigate and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2021-29998 is crucial for maintaining the security of systems.

Immediate Steps to Take

It is recommended to update Wind River VxWorks to version 6.5 or later to patch the vulnerability and prevent any potential exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing strong network security measures and regular software updates can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for security updates from Wind River and apply patches promptly to ensure that systems are protected against known vulnerabilities.