CVE-2021-41546 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability in multiple Siemens RUGGEDCOM devices can lead to a Denial-of-Service attack due to a filesystem space issue.

Understanding CVE-2021-41546

The vulnerability affects various RUGGEDCOM devices, allowing attackers to trigger a permanent Denial-of-Service attack.

What is CVE-2021-41546?

The vulnerability in Siemens RUGGEDCOM devices causes the devices to fail booting successfully when the filesystem gets filled with crashdumps due to insufficient space checking.

The Impact of CVE-2021-41546

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to execute a permanent Denial-of-Service attack on affected devices.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-41546

The CVE-2021-41546 vulnerability in Siemens RUGGEDCOM devices is detailed below:

Vulnerability Description

Affected devices write crashdumps without verifying filesystem space availability, leading to boot failure when the root filesystem is full.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vulnerable versions include all below V2.14.1 of RUGGEDCOM ROX MX5000, RX1400, RX1500, RX1501, RX1510, RX1511, RX1512, RX1524, RX1536, and RX5000.

Exploitation Mechanism

An attacker can cause a Denial-of-Service attack by inducing a filesystem overflow through crashdumps.

Mitigation and Prevention

Taking immediate steps and implementing long-term security practices can help mitigate the risk associated with CVE-2021-41546.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade affected devices to versions equal to or above V2.14.1 to prevent the vulnerability exploitation.
Monitor filesystem usage and crashdump generation to detect abnormalities.
Implement proper access controls to limit unauthorized actions.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch devices to ensure the latest security fixes are in place.
Conduct security assessments and audits to identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by Siemens to address the vulnerability in impacted devices.