CVE-2021-38473 in Versiondog
Summary
by MITRE • 10/22/2021
The affected product’s code base doesn’t properly control arguments for specific functions, which could lead to a stack overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/29/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-38473 represents a critical stack overflow condition stemming from inadequate argument validation within the affected product's code base. This flaw manifests when specific functions receive improperly controlled input parameters, creating an exploitable condition that can result in arbitrary code execution or system instability. The issue falls under the broader category of improper input validation, which is classified as CWE-20 by the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, indicating a fundamental flaw in how the software handles user-supplied data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when functions within the software receive arguments that exceed expected parameter limits or contain malformed data structures. When these uncontrolled arguments are processed through stack-based memory operations, the program's execution flow becomes compromised as the stack pointer may be overwritten or corrupted. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited by attackers to execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected application, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The attack vector typically involves sending specially crafted inputs to the vulnerable functions, which then triggers the stack overflow condition during normal program execution.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on the affected software, as it can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication in many scenarios. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service to include potential data breaches, system takeover, and persistent backdoor access. Security professionals must consider this vulnerability in the context of the ATT&CK framework, specifically under the T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution and T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter tactics, as attackers can leverage this flaw to establish persistent access and execute arbitrary commands on vulnerable systems. The vulnerability's exploitation potential increases when the affected software runs with elevated privileges or handles sensitive data processing functions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-38473 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from the vendor, as this represents a critical security flaw requiring urgent attention. Organizations must implement robust input validation mechanisms across all functions that process external data, including bounds checking, parameter sanitization, and proper error handling procedures. Additionally, deploying runtime protections such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and data execution prevention can significantly reduce exploitation success rates. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual input patterns and anomalous function calls that may indicate attempted exploitation of this vulnerability. Regular code reviews and static analysis should be implemented to identify similar argument control issues across the software codebase, preventing future occurrences of this class of vulnerability.