CVE-2021-22471 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability exists in a component of HarmonyOS, affecting version 2.0. Exploitation by local attackers can lead to nearby process crashes.

Understanding CVE-2021-22471

This CVE describes a security flaw in Huawei's HarmonyOS that could be exploited by attackers to cause a process crash on affected devices.

What is CVE-2021-22471?

CVE-2021-22471 is a NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability in HarmonyOS, which enables local attackers to exploit this issue and potentially crash nearby processes.

The Impact of CVE-2021-22471

The vulnerability could be leveraged by malicious entities to disrupt processes and potentially lead to denial of service (DoS) conditions on affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-22471

This section includes a detailed overview of the vulnerability, the affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from a NULL Pointer Dereference issue in a component of HarmonyOS, version 2.0, that allows local attackers to crash nearby processes.

Affected Systems and Versions

HarmonyOS version 2.0 is confirmed to be impacted by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Local attackers can take advantage of this flaw to trigger a NULL Pointer Dereference, causing disruption to nearby processes.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2021-22471 and enhance system security, follow the outlined mitigation strategies and best practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Monitor vendor updates for patches related to HarmonyOS version 2.0.
Implement network security measures to prevent unauthorized access to vulnerable devices.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update HarmonyOS to the latest patches and versions to safeguard against known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security awareness training for users to recognize and respond to potential threats.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by Huawei for HarmonyOS version 2.0 to mitigate the NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability and strengthen the overall security posture of the system.