CVE-2021-26391 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2021-26391, impacting AMD Radeon RX and PRO W Series products. Find out how an attacker could gain code execution due to insufficient signature verification.
A security vulnerability has been identified in AMD Radeon RX and PRO W Series products that could allow an attacker to execute malicious code by exploiting insufficient verification of multiple header signatures.
Understanding CVE-2021-26391
This section will cover the details of the CVE-2021-26391 vulnerability.
What is CVE-2021-26391?
The vulnerability involves inadequate verification of multiple header signatures during the loading of a Trusted Application (TA), potentially enabling a privileged attacker to achieve code execution within the TA or the operating system/kernel.
The Impact of CVE-2021-26391
The impact of this vulnerability is significant as it could lead to unauthorized code execution, posing a serious security risk to affected systems.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-26391
Here, we delve into the technical aspects of the CVE-2021-26391 vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability arises from the lack of proper verification of multiple header signatures during the loading of a Trusted Application, granting an attacker with privileges the ability to execute malicious code in the affected TA or the OS/kernel.
Affected Systems and Versions
The vulnerability affects AMD Radeon RX 5000 Series & PRO W5000 Series, as well as AMD Radeon RX 6000 Series & PRO W6000 Series products. Specifically, certain versions of AMD Radeon Software, AMD Radeon Pro Software Enterprise, and Enterprise Driver are susceptible.
Exploitation Mechanism
By exploiting the insufficient verification of header signatures, an attacker with privileges can inject and execute malicious code within the Trusted Application or the operating system/kernel.
Mitigation and Prevention
In this section, we discuss the steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2021-26391.
Immediate Steps to Take
To address this vulnerability, users are advised to update their AMD Radeon Software, AMD Radeon Pro Software Enterprise, and Enterprise Driver to versions above the specified vulnerable releases.
Long-Term Security Practices
Implementing robust code signing mechanisms and regularly updating system and software components can enhance the overall security posture against similar vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
AMD has released patches and updates to address CVE-2021-26391. Users should promptly apply these patches to remediate the vulnerability and enhance the security of their systems.