CVE-2021-42809 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

CVE-2021-42809 addresses an improper access control vulnerability in Thales Sentinel Protection Installer version 7.7.0, allowing the execution of arbitrary code.

Understanding CVE-2021-42809

The vulnerability affects the Sentinel Protection Installer by Thales, potentially leading to the execution of arbitrary code due to improper access control of dynamically-managed code resources.

What is CVE-2021-42809?

The vulnerability involves improper access control of Dynamically-Managed Code Resources (DLL) in Thales Sentinel Protection Installer, which could allow threat actors to execute arbitrary code.

The Impact of CVE-2021-42809

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 6.5, indicating a medium severity issue. It can result in high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with a requirement of high privileges for exploitation.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-42809

The following technical details shed light on the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The Sentinel Protection Installer 7.7.0 fails to properly restrict loading Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs), opening the door for executing arbitrary code.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: Thales
Product: Sentinel Protection Installer
Versions affected: <= 7.7.0
Platforms: Windows

Exploitation Mechanism

The attacker needs local access to the system and high privileges to exploit the vulnerability. User interaction is required for successful exploitation.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems by following these mitigation strategies.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Sentinel Protection Installer to version 7.7.1 or newer immediately.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update access controls on dynamically-managed code resources.
Implement the principle of least privilege for user and system accounts.

Patching and Updates

Ensure all software, including the Sentinel Protection Installer, is regularly updated with the latest security patches.