CVE-2021-3997 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis
Learn about CVE-2021-3997 affecting systemd, causing denial of service due to uncontrolled recursion in systemd-tmpfiles. Find mitigation strategies and affected versions.
A flaw in systemd can lead to a denial of service at boot time due to uncontrolled recursion in systemd-tmpfiles creating too many nested directories in /tmp.
Understanding CVE-2021-3997
This section will provide insights into the impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies related to CVE-2021-3997.
What is CVE-2021-3997?
The CVE-2021-3997 vulnerability is identified in systemd, where uncontrolled recursion in systemd-tmpfiles can cause a denial of service during boot if numerous nested directories are generated in /tmp.
The Impact of CVE-2021-3997
The impact of this vulnerability includes the potential for an attacker to exploit the issue, leading to a denial of service (DoS) condition on the affected system during boot time.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-3997
This section covers the specifics of the vulnerability, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability arises from uncontrolled recursion in systemd-tmpfiles, which may be exploited by creating excessive nested directories in the /tmp directory, resulting in a DoS incident during system boot.
Affected Systems and Versions
The affected system is systemd, with version 'Fixed in v251-rc1' being impacted by the CVE-2021-3997 vulnerability.
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by maliciously creating an excessive number of nested directories in the /tmp directory, triggering the denial of service during boot.
Mitigation and Prevention
Learn about the immediate steps, long-term security practices, and patching procedures to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-3997.
Immediate Steps to Take
Immediately address the vulnerability by applying relevant security patches provided by the vendor to prevent potential exploitation and system downtime.
Long-Term Security Practices
Incorporate robust security practices such as regular system updates, security monitoring, and access control to enhance the overall security posture and protect against similar vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
Stay informed about security advisories, apply timely patches released by the vendor, and maintain a proactive approach towards system security to safeguard against known vulnerabilities.