CVE-2021-25224 in ServerProtect
Summary
by MITRE • 01/28/2021
A memory exhaustion vulnerability in Trend Micro ServerProtect for Linux 3.0 could allow a local attacker to craft specific files that can cause a denial-of-service on the affected product. The specific flaw exists within a manual scan component. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/21/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-25224 represents a critical memory exhaustion flaw within Trend Micro ServerProtect for Linux version 3.0 that specifically impacts the manual scan component of the security solution. This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as a weakness categorized under CWE-400, which encompasses improper handling of resources leading to resource exhaustion. The flaw manifests when a local attacker crafts specific malicious files that can trigger excessive memory consumption during the scanning process, ultimately leading to system instability and denial-of-service conditions. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because it requires only low-privileged code execution capabilities to exploit, making it accessible to attackers who have already gained minimal system access through other means.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the manual scan functionality failing to properly validate or limit memory allocation when processing specially crafted input files. When the scanning component encounters these malformed files, it enters into a memory consumption loop where allocated resources are not properly released or capped, resulting in progressive memory exhaustion. This behavior aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001 which covers network denial of service attacks through resource exhaustion. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation and memory management practices within the ServerProtect application, where the system fails to implement adequate bounds checking or memory limits during file processing operations. Attackers can exploit this by creating files that trigger the scanning logic in a way that continuously allocates memory without proper cleanup mechanisms.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations relying on Trend Micro ServerProtect for Linux as their primary endpoint protection solution. The local privilege escalation requirement means that even if an attacker cannot directly execute code with administrative privileges, they can still leverage this vulnerability to disrupt critical security services. The denial-of-service impact extends beyond simple service interruption, potentially compromising the organization's ability to detect and respond to other security threats during the period when the system is under attack. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where ServerProtect is deployed as a critical security component, as the service disruption could create windows of opportunity for additional attacks or allow malicious actors to bypass other security controls.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the latest version of Trend Micro ServerProtect where the vulnerability has been patched, as well as implementing monitoring solutions to detect unusual memory consumption patterns during scanning operations. Network segmentation and access controls should be reinforced to limit the potential for local privilege escalation attacks that could lead to exploitation. Security teams should also establish baseline memory usage metrics for the scanning processes to quickly identify when anomalous behavior occurs, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 for network service scanning. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing automated patch management processes specifically for endpoint security solutions to prevent similar vulnerabilities from remaining unaddressed for extended periods. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper resource management in security applications and the need for comprehensive testing of input handling mechanisms in security tools to prevent exploitation through resource exhaustion attacks.