CVE-2021-44491 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

An issue was discovered in YottaDB through r1.32 and V7.0-000 where attackers can cause a segmentation fault by manipulating the size calculation of memset calls in op_fnj3 in sr_port/op_fnj3.c.

Understanding CVE-2021-44491

This CVE describes a vulnerability in YottaDB that attackers can exploit to crash the application.

What is CVE-2021-44491?

The vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate input, leading to a large calculation of memset size, causing a segmentation fault and application crash.

The Impact of CVE-2021-44491

Exploitation can result in a denial of service (DoS) condition, rendering the application unresponsive and impacting its availability.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-44491

The following technical details provide insight into the vulnerability and its implications.

Vulnerability Description

Attackers can trigger a segmentation fault by manipulating the size calculation of calls to memset in op_fnj3 in sr_port/op_fnj3.c.

Affected Systems and Versions

YottaDB through r1.32 and V7.0-000

Exploitation Mechanism

Crafted input leads to an extremely large value in memset size calculation, causing a crash.

Mitigation and Prevention

Taking immediate action and implementing security best practices can help mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-44491.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor patches promptly to address the vulnerability.
Monitor and restrict input that can potentially trigger the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security assessments and code reviews to identify and address similar vulnerabilities.
Educate developers and users on secure coding practices and input validation.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates from YottaDB and apply patches as soon as they are released.