CVE-2021-38433 in Connext DDS Professional
Summary
by MITRE • 05/05/2022
RTI Connext DDS Professional and Connext DDS Secure Versions 4.2x to 6.1.0 vulnerable to a stack-based buffer overflow, which may allow a local attacker to execute arbitrary code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-38433 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within RTI Connext DDS Professional and Connext DDS Secure versions ranging from 4.2x through 6.1.0. This issue stems from insufficient bounds checking in the software's handling of user-supplied data, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by local attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability specifically affects the data distribution service implementation that manages real-time data exchange in distributed systems, making it particularly concerning for industrial control systems and real-time applications where reliability and security are paramount.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs when the software processes incoming data packets or configuration parameters without adequate validation of input lengths. When an attacker provides maliciously crafted input that exceeds the allocated buffer space, the excess data overflows into adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting the stack frame and allowing for the execution of attacker-controlled code. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows for memory corruption. The attack vector is local in nature, meaning that an attacker must already have access to the system to exploit this vulnerability, though the privilege escalation potential makes it particularly dangerous in environments where local access is possible.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can compromise the integrity and availability of distributed systems that rely on RTI Connext DDS for real-time communication. In industrial environments, this could lead to complete system compromise, data manipulation, or denial of service conditions that could affect critical infrastructure operations. The vulnerability affects systems where RTI Connext DDS is deployed for mission-critical applications such as aerospace, automotive, and industrial automation systems, where the reliability of data distribution is essential. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.001 technique for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation would allow for command execution within the context of the vulnerable application, potentially enabling further lateral movement or privilege escalation within the compromised system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-38433 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems, as RTI has released updates addressing this specific vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit local access to systems running RTI Connext DDS, particularly in environments where the software is deployed in critical infrastructure. Additionally, input validation controls should be strengthened at application boundaries to prevent malformed data from reaching the vulnerable code paths. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns of memory access or execution that might indicate exploitation attempts. System administrators should also consider implementing runtime protections such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and data execution prevention mechanisms to reduce the effectiveness of exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues in other components of the distributed system architecture.