CVE-2021-31502 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This CVE-2021-31502 article provides details about a vulnerability found in OpenText Brava! Desktop Build 16.6.4.55, allowing remote attackers to execute arbitrary code. The flaw lies in the parsing of PDF files, enabling attackers to operate within the current process context.

Understanding CVE-2021-31502

This section delves into the specifics of the CVE-2021-31502 vulnerability, including its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2021-31502?

CVE-2021-31502 is a critical vulnerability in OpenText Brava! Desktop Build 16.6.4.55, enabling remote attackers to run arbitrary code by manipulating PDF file parsing. User interaction is necessary as the target must access a malicious page or file.

The Impact of CVE-2021-31502

The vulnerability's CVSS score is 7.8, indicating a high severity level. Attackers with low complexity can exploit it locally, leading to high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with no privileges required.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-31502

In this section, we elaborate on the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw stems from the lack of validation for object existence before executing operations on it, allowing threat actors to execute code within the current process.

Affected Systems and Versions

OpenText Brava! Desktop Build 16.6.4.55 is affected by this vulnerability. Users of this specific version are at risk of remote code execution.

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit CVE-2021-31502, attackers must lure the target into interacting with a malicious page or file, leveraging the vulnerability in PDF file parsing.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section outlines steps to address the CVE-2021-31502 vulnerability, ensuring immediate protection and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users should refrain from opening untrusted PDF files or visiting suspicious web pages to prevent exploitation. Consider updating or patching the affected software.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing robust security measures, such as network segmentation, regular software updates, and employee cybersecurity training, can enhance overall protection.

Patching and Updates

Vendors are advised to release patches that address the validation issue in PDF parsing to mitigate the vulnerability in OpenText Brava! Desktop Build 16.6.4.55.