CVE-2021-46769 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This CVE record pertains to a vulnerability in the ASP Bootloader of certain AMD EPYC processors that could potentially lead to arbitrary code execution.

Understanding CVE-2021-46769

This CVE identifier refers to a specific issue in the Bootloader of select AMD EPYC processors that could be exploited by a privileged attacker to perform unauthorized DMA operations.

What is CVE-2021-46769?

Insufficient validation of syscall inputs in the ASP Bootloader may permit a malicious actor with elevated privileges to conduct unauthorized DMA transfers, potentially resulting in the execution of arbitrary code.

The Impact of CVE-2021-46769

The vulnerability may allow a threat actor with elevated system privileges to execute unauthorized DMA transfers, which could lead to the execution of arbitrary code on the affected system.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-46769

The CVE-2021-46769 vulnerability in AMD processors is detailed below:

Vulnerability Description

Insufficient handling of syscall input validation in the ASP Bootloader could enable an attacker with elevated privileges to execute unauthorized DMA copies, ultimately leading to potential code execution.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Platforms: x86
Affected Products: 2nd Gen and 3rd Gen AMD EPYC
Affected Versions: various

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability arises due to inadequate validation of system call inputs in the ASP Bootloader, allowing a malicious actor to perform unauthorized DMA transfers, potentially resulting in arbitrary code execution.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting your system from CVE-2021-46769 requires immediate actions and ongoing security practices:

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches released by AMD promptly.
Monitor AMD's security advisories for updates related to this vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Keep your system and software up to date with the latest security patches.
Implement least privilege access controls to limit the impact of potential security breaches.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for security updates and patches from AMD to mitigate the risk associated with CVE-2021-46769.