CVE-2021-34761 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability in Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software allows an authenticated, local attacker to overwrite or append arbitrary data to system files using root-level privileges. This CVE was published on October 27, 2021.

Understanding CVE-2021-34761

This section will cover the details of the CVE-2021-34761 vulnerability in Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software.

What is CVE-2021-34761?

CVE-2021-34761 is a vulnerability in Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software that permits an authenticated, local attacker to manipulate system files with root-level privileges.

The Impact of CVE-2021-34761

The vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker with administrative credentials on the device to overwrite or append arbitrary data to system files.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-34761

This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE-2021-34761 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

Incomplete validation of user input for a specific CLI command allows attackers to craft malicious parameters, leading to data manipulation in system files.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software, with all versions being impacted.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to the device with administrative privileges and issuing a CLI command with crafted user parameters.

Mitigation and Prevention

Learn how to safeguard your system from the CVE-2021-34761 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Ensure that only trusted users have administrative credentials on devices to mitigate the risk of exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update the system to prevent unauthorized access and data manipulation.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about patches and updates released by Cisco to address the CVE-2021-34761 vulnerability.