CVE-2021-45960 : What You Need to Know

Expat (libexpat) before 2.4.3 has a vulnerability that can lead to realloc misbehavior due to a left shift in the storeAtts function in xmlparse.c.

Understanding CVE-2021-45960

In this section, we'll cover what CVE-2021-45960 is and its impact.

What is CVE-2021-45960?

Exploiting a left shift by 29 or more places in the storeAtts function in xmlparse.c of Expat (libexpat) before version 2.4.3.

The Impact of CVE-2021-45960

This vulnerability can cause realloc misbehavior, potentially leading to memory allocation issues like insufficient bytes or improper memory freeing.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-45960

Let's delve into the technical aspects of CVE-2021-45960.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises due to a problematic left shift operation in the storeAtts function within xmlparse.c in Expat versions before 2.4.3.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: N/A
Vendor: N/A
Vulnerable Version: N/A

Exploitation Mechanism

The issue can be exploited by executing a left shift by 29 or more places in the storeAtts function, causing realloc misbehavior.

Mitigation and Prevention

Learn how to mitigate and prevent vulnerabilities like CVE-2021-45960.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Expat to version 2.4.3 or later to patch the vulnerability.
Monitor security advisories for any related updates or patches.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to the latest versions.
Conduct security audits to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Keep Expat up-to-date with the latest patches and security fixes to prevent exploitation of CVE-2021-45960.