CVE-2021-33450 : What You Need to Know

An issue was discovered in NASM version 2.16rc0, leading to memory leaks in nasm_calloc() in nasmlib/alloc.c.

Understanding CVE-2021-33450

This CVE identifies a memory leak vulnerability in NASM version 2.16rc0, impacting the nasm_calloc() function in nasmlib/alloc.c.

What is CVE-2021-33450?

The CVE-2021-33450 details a memory leak problem in NASM version 2.16rc0, specifically in the nasm_calloc() function within the nasmlib/alloc.c file.

The Impact of CVE-2021-33450

The impact of this CVE is the leaking of memory resources due to improper handling within the nasm_calloc() function, potentially leading to memory exhaustion and performance issues.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-33450

This section highlights the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in NASM version 2.16rc0 allows memory leaks in the nasm_calloc() function, which can affect system performance and stability.

Affected Systems and Versions

NASM version 2.16rc0 is confirmed to be affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by triggering the nasm_calloc() function to allocate memory without deallocating it properly, leading to a continuous memory leak.

Mitigation and Prevention

Discover immediate steps to take, long-term security practices, and patching and updating procedures to address CVE-2021-33450.

Immediate Steps to Take

Developers and users should update NASM to a non-affected version, analyze and monitor system memory usage, and implement appropriate memory management practices.

Long-Term Security Practices

To enhance system security, continuous monitoring of memory usage and regular updates of NASM software are recommended.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security patches released by NASM to mitigate the memory leak vulnerability and enhance system performance and stability.