CVE-2021-44484 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

YottaDB through r1.32 and V7.0-000 is vulnerable to a NULL pointer dereference issue that can lead to application crashes.

Understanding CVE-2021-44484

This CVE uncovers a vulnerability in YottaDB that could be exploited by attackers to crash the application.

What is CVE-2021-44484?

The issue in YottaDB through versions r1.32 and V7.0-000 stems from a lack of NULL checks in calls to emit_trip in sr_port/emit_code.c, enabling attackers to crash the software by dereferencing a NULL pointer.

The Impact of CVE-2021-44484

The vulnerability allows attackers to crash the application by exploiting a NULL pointer dereference, potentially leading to denial of service.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-44484

YottaDB through r1.32 and V7.0-000 is affected by this vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

Attacks exploiting the lack of NULL checks in emit_trip can result in application crashes due to NULL pointer dereference in sr_port/emit_code.c.

Affected Systems and Versions

YottaDB versions: r1.32 and V7.0-000

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can deliberately dereference a NULL pointer through the emit_trip function, causing the application to crash.

Mitigation and Prevention

Implement immediate steps and long-term security practices to safeguard systems against this vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-supplied patches or updates to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor system logs for any suspicious activities that could indicate exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security audits to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.
Educate developers on secure coding practices to prevent similar issues in the future.

Patching and Updates

Update YottaDB to a version that includes a fix for the NULL pointer dereference vulnerability.