CVE-2021-3712 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis
Discover the impact of CVE-2021-3712, a buffer overflow vulnerability in OpenSSL, potentially leading to Denial of Service attacks and data exposure. Learn about affected systems, exploitation, and mitigation.
A buffer overflow vulnerability in OpenSSL was discovered and tracked as CVE-2021-3712. This vulnerability, known as 'Read buffer overruns processing ASN.1 strings,' can potentially lead to a Denial of Service attack or the exposure of sensitive information.
Understanding CVE-2021-3712
This section provides detailed insights into the nature of the vulnerability and its implications.
What is CVE-2021-3712?
The vulnerability arises from the mishandling of ASN.1 strings internally within OpenSSL. While OpenSSL typically ensures NUL termination of string arrays, directly constructed ASN.1 strings can lack such termination. This deviation can trigger read buffer overruns, posing security risks.
The Impact of CVE-2021-3712
If exploited by a malicious actor, this vulnerability could potentially result in a crash leading to a Denial of Service attack or the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data, including private keys.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-3712
Explore the specifics of the vulnerability to understand affected systems, exploitation mechanisms, and mitigation strategies.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability occurs when an application processes ASN.1 strings directly constructed without NUL termination, leading to read buffer overruns. This can be triggered when printing ASN.1 data or processing certificates.
Affected Systems and Versions
OpenSSL versions from 1.0.2 to 1.1.1k are vulnerable to this issue. However, the flaw has been addressed in OpenSSL 1.1.1l and OpenSSL 1.0.2za.
Exploitation Mechanism
Malicious actors can exploit this vulnerability by causing an application to construct an ASN.1 string without NUL termination and then processing it through affected OpenSSL functions.
Mitigation and Prevention
Understand the immediate steps to take and long-term security practices to safeguard systems against CVE-2021-3712.
Immediate Steps to Take
Ensure that affected systems are updated with the latest OpenSSL versions that contain the necessary security patches to mitigate the vulnerability.
Long-Term Security Practices
Adopt secure coding practices, regularly update software components, and conduct security assessments to prevent buffer overflow vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
Apply the recommended patches provided by OpenSSL, including OpenSSL 1.1.1l and OpenSSL 1.0.2za, to address the CVE-2021-3712 vulnerability.