CVE-2021-42130 in Avalanche
Summary
by MITRE • 12/07/2021
A deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability exists in Ivanti Avalanche before 6.3.3 allows an attacker with access to the Inforail Service to perform arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/10/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-42130 represents a critical deserialization flaw in Ivanti Avalanche version 6.3.2 and earlier, classified under CWE-502 which specifically addresses deserialization of untrusted data. This vulnerability resides within the Inforail Service component of the Ivanti Avalanche platform, which serves as a central management interface for enterprise mobility solutions. The flaw allows an attacker who has already gained access to the Inforail Service to execute arbitrary code on the affected system, effectively providing a path to full system compromise. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of serialized data objects during the deserialization process, enabling malicious actors to inject crafted payloads that can be executed with the privileges of the Inforail Service account.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it creates a persistent backdoor within enterprise environments that rely on Ivanti Avalanche for mobile device management. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can leverage the compromised Inforail Service to gain unauthorized access to sensitive corporate data, deploy additional malware, or establish further footholds within the network infrastructure. The attack vector requires initial access to the Inforail Service, which typically involves credentials or other attack methods that could include credential theft, privilege escalation, or other pre-authentication exploitation techniques. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1078.004 for valid accounts, as the exploitation relies on legitimate service accounts with sufficient privileges to execute code.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-42130 focus on immediate patching of the Ivanti Avalanche platform to version 6.3.3 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the deserialization vulnerability. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to the Inforail Service, enforce strict access controls and monitoring of service account usage, and conduct comprehensive security assessments of their mobile device management infrastructure. Additional defensive measures include implementing application whitelisting policies, monitoring for unusual deserialization activity, and ensuring that service accounts have the minimum required privileges. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of validating all serialized data inputs and implementing secure deserialization practices, particularly in enterprise management platforms where the compromise of a single service can lead to widespread system infiltration. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management solutions to ensure timely remediation of similar vulnerabilities in their mobile device management environments.