CVE-2021-46828 : Security Advisory and Response

CVE-2021-46828, published on July 20, 2022, addresses a vulnerability in libtirpc that could lead to a denial of service attack by exhausting the file descriptors of a process.

Understanding CVE-2021-46828

What is CVE-2021-46828?

In libtirpc before 1.3.3rc1, idle TCP connections are mishandled, allowing remote attackers to exhaust file descriptors, leading to an svc_run infinite loop without accepting new connections.

The Impact of CVE-2021-46828

Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability to cause a denial of service by overwhelming the file descriptors of a targeted process.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-46828

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in libtirpc before version 1.3.3rc1 allows for the exhausting of file descriptors due to mishandling of idle TCP connections.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: n/a
Product: n/a
Affected versions: All versions prior to libtirpc 1.3.3rc1

Exploitation Mechanism

Remote attackers can send malicious requests to exploit the mishandling of idle TCP connections, leading to file descriptor exhaustion.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update libtirpc to version 1.3.3rc1 or later to address the vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity that may indicate exploitation attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement network segmentation to reduce the impact of successful attacks.
Regularly review and update security configurations and access controls.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and patches from the libtirpc project and relevant vendors to promptly apply updates.