CVE-2021-42075 : What You Need to Know

Barrier before 2.3.4 allows remote unauthenticated attackers to cause denial of service by exhausting file descriptors for TCP connections.

Understanding CVE-2021-42075

What is CVE-2021-42075?

Barrier before 2.3.4's server-side implementation fails to close file descriptors for established TCP connections, enabling attackers to exhaust file descriptors, leading to denial of service.

The Impact of CVE-2021-42075

This vulnerability allows unauthenticated remote attackers to conduct denial-of-service attacks by causing file descriptor exhaustion in the server process.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-42075

Vulnerability Description

The Barrier component in versions before 2.3.4 inadequately handles file descriptors for TCP connections, facilitating the denial-of-service exploit.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Barrier
Vendor: N/A
Versions: All versions before 2.3.4

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability remotely without authentication to overload the server with TCP connections, ultimately leading to a denial of service.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Barrier to version 2.3.4 or later.
Implement network firewalls to restrict access.
Monitor server connections for unusual activity.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and infrastructure components.
Conduct security audits and vulnerability assessments.
Educate users and administrators on security best practices.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security patches and updates provided by Barrier's official sources.