CVE-2021-38578 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE-2021-38578 article provides an in-depth understanding of the vulnerability, its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

Understanding CVE-2021-38578

CVE-2021-38578 is a critical vulnerability identified in the EDK II platform by TianoCore, impacting the edk2-stable202208 version.

What is CVE-2021-38578?

The vulnerability arises from existing CommBuffer checks in SmmEntryPoint failing to detect underflow during BufferSize computation.

The Impact of CVE-2021-38578

With a CVSS base score of 10 and a critical severity level, this vulnerability can lead to high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-38578

Here are the key technical details related to CVE-2021-38578:

Vulnerability Description

The flaw lies in the SmmEntryPoint's inability to detect underflow accurately while computing BufferSize.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects systems utilizing the EDK II platform with the edk2-stable202208 version.

Exploitation Mechanism

The attack complexity is low with a network-based attack vector, requiring no privileges and user interaction, but leading to critical impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2021-38578 effectively, consider the following mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update to a patched version of the EDK II platform immediately.
Monitor vendor updates and apply security patches promptly.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement robust security protocols and best practices to secure system components.
Regularly audit and test for vulnerabilities in firmware components.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from TianoCore and promptly apply patches and updates to mitigate CVE-2021-38578.