CVE-2021-43086 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

ARM astcenc 3.2.0 is vulnerable to Buffer Overflow. The compression function of the astc-encoder project with the -cl option triggers a stack-buffer-overflow in the encode_ise() function in the compress_symbolic_block_for_partition_2planes() function in "/Source/astcenc_compress_symbolic.cpp".

Understanding CVE-2021-43086

What is CVE-2021-43086?

ARM astcenc 3.2.0 is susceptible to a Buffer Overflow vulnerability that arises during compression operations with specific options, leading to a stack-buffer-overflow issue.

The Impact of CVE-2021-43086

This vulnerability allows attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service by exploiting the Buffer Overflow.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-43086

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability is located in the encode_ise() function within the astc-encoder project.
It specifically occurs in the compress_symbolic_block_for_partition_2planes() function in "/Source/astcenc_compress_symbolic.cpp".

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Version: ARM astcenc 3.2.0
All systems utilizing this specific version are vulnerable to this exploit.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploitation is through the compression function with the -cl option in astc-encoder, triggering a stack-buffer-overflow.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable or restrict access to the affected compression function.
Implement security patches provided by the vendor promptly.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and code reviews to identify and rectify potential weaknesses.
Monitor security mailing lists and update feeds for relevant security advisories.
Employ secure coding practices and adhere to coding standards.

Patching and Updates

Keep the software up to date with the latest patches and versions released by ARM.
Apply security updates as soon as they are available to mitigate the risk of exploitation.