CVE-2021-27431 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

ARM CMSIS RTOS2 versions prior to 2.1.3 are vulnerable to an integer wrap-around in the inosRtxMemoryAlloc function. This vulnerability can result in arbitrary memory allocation, leading to unexpected behaviors like crashes or injected code execution.

Understanding CVE-2021-27431

This section provides an overview of the CVE-2021-27431 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2021-27431?

CVE-2021-27431 affects ARM CMSIS RTOS2 versions before 2.1.3 due to an integer wrap-around vulnerability in the inosRtxMemoryAlloc function.

The Impact of CVE-2021-27431

The vulnerability in ARM CMSIS RTOS2 can have a high severity impact, allowing attackers to exploit it for arbitrary memory allocation, potentially leading to crashes or injected code execution.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-27431

In this section, we delve into the technical aspects of CVE-2021-27431.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability lies in the inosRtxMemoryAlloc function of ARM CMSIS RTOS2, allowing attackers to trigger integer wrap-around and perform unauthorized memory allocation.

Affected Systems and Versions

ARM CMSIS RTOS2 versions prior to 2.1.3 are impacted by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by manipulating the inosRtxMemoryAlloc function to trigger integer wrap-around and achieve arbitrary memory allocation.

Mitigation and Prevention

To secure systems from CVE-2021-27431, specific mitigation steps are essential.

Immediate Steps to Take

It's advised to update ARM CMSIS RTOS2 to version 2.1.3 or later once the patch is released to mitigate the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement secure coding practices and regularly update software to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Keep an eye out for the expected update for ARM CMSIS RTOS2, scheduled for release in June.