CVE-2021-21702 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis
Learn about CVE-2021-21702 impacting PHP versions 7.3.x, 7.4.x, and 8.0.x. Understand the risks, impact, and mitigation strategies for this Null Dereference vulnerability.
This CVE-2021-21702 article provides insights into a vulnerability found in PHP versions 7.3.x, 7.4.x, and 8.0.x affecting the SOAP extension. The vulnerability could potentially lead to a null pointer access and system crashes.
Understanding CVE-2021-21702
In this section, we delve into the details surrounding the CVE-2021-21702 vulnerability affecting PHP versions.
What is CVE-2021-21702?
In PHP versions 7.3.x below 7.3.27, 7.4.x below 7.4.15, and 8.0.x below 8.0.2, a vulnerability exists in the SOAP extension. It allows a malicious SOAP server to send malformed XML data, triggering a null pointer access, and potentially causing PHP to crash.
The Impact of CVE-2021-21702
The impact of CVE-2021-21702 is rated as MEDIUM with a CVSS base score of 5.3. It poses a risk of system crashes when connecting to a compromised SOAP server.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-21702
This section elaborates on the technical aspects of CVE-2021-21702.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability in PHP allows malicious SOAP servers to return malformed XML data, leading to a null pointer access and system crashes.
Affected Systems and Versions
PHP versions 7.3.x, 7.4.x, and 8.0.x are affected by this vulnerability when utilizing the SOAP extension to communicate with SOAP servers.
Exploitation Mechanism
By exploiting this vulnerability, attackers can craft malformed XML responses from SOAP servers, causing PHP to access a null pointer and potentially crash.
Mitigation and Prevention
In this final section, we outline the steps to mitigate and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2021-21702.
Immediate Steps to Take
Users are advised to update PHP to versions 7.3.27, 7.4.15, or 8.0.2 to eliminate the vulnerability and prevent potential system crashes.
Long-Term Security Practices
Regularly updating PHP and implementing secure coding practices can help mitigate the risk of such vulnerabilities in the long term.
Patching and Updates
Stay informed about security advisories and promptly apply patches released by PHP to address known vulnerabilities.