CVE-2021-46501 in Jsish
Summary
by MITRE • 01/28/2022
Jsish v3.5.0 was discovered to contain a heap-use-after-free via SortSubCmd in src/jsiArray.c. This vulnerability can lead to a Denial of Service (DoS).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-46501 affects Jsish version 3.5.0 and represents a critical heap-use-after-free condition within the SortSubCmd function located in the src/jsiArray.c source file. This type of vulnerability occurs when a program continues to reference memory that has already been freed, creating potential security risks that can be exploited by malicious actors. The heap-use-after-free vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category, which specifically addresses the use of freed memory conditions that can lead to unpredictable behavior and potential code execution. The affected software Jsish is a JavaScript interpreter and runtime environment that processes and executes JavaScript code, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for systems that rely on JavaScript processing capabilities.
The technical flaw manifests within the SortSubCmd function where improper memory management leads to a situation where memory allocated for array sorting operations is freed but subsequently accessed during the sorting process. This heap-use-after-free condition creates a scenario where the program may attempt to read from or write to memory that has been deallocated, potentially causing application crashes or more severe consequences. The vulnerability specifically impacts the sorting functionality of Jsish, which means that any JavaScript code utilizing array sorting operations could trigger this memory corruption issue. The DoS (Denial of Service) impact occurs when the application crashes or becomes unresponsive due to the invalid memory access, rendering the interpreter unable to process further JavaScript commands until restarted.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it represents a potential pathway for more sophisticated attacks. When an attacker can cause heap corruption through controlled input, they may be able to manipulate memory layout and potentially achieve code execution in certain scenarios. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a memory corruption vulnerability that can be leveraged for privilege escalation or arbitrary code execution depending on the execution environment and memory protection mechanisms in place. Systems running Jsish for web applications, server-side processing, or any environment where JavaScript code is executed may be at risk, particularly when processing untrusted input data through sorting operations. The vulnerability demonstrates poor memory management practices in the interpreter's core array handling functions, which are fundamental components that should maintain memory integrity throughout their lifecycle.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-46501 should prioritize immediate patching of the Jsish interpreter to version 3.5.1 or later, which contains the necessary memory management fixes. Organizations should implement input validation and sanitization measures to prevent malicious data from reaching the sorting functions, particularly in environments where untrusted JavaScript code is executed. The fix typically involves proper memory deallocation and null pointer checks within the SortSubCmd function to ensure that freed memory is not accessed again. Additionally, deploying application sandboxing techniques and memory protection mechanisms such as address space layout randomization can help mitigate potential exploitation attempts. System administrators should monitor for any signs of exploitation attempts and maintain updated security monitoring tools to detect anomalous behavior that may indicate successful exploitation of this vulnerability. Regular security assessments and code reviews focusing on memory management practices should be implemented to identify similar issues in other components of the JavaScript interpreter and related systems.