CVE-2021-21193 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Google Chrome versions prior to 89.0.4389.90. This vulnerability allows for use after free in Blink, which can lead to potential heap corruption when users visit maliciously crafted HTML pages. Given its CVSS score of 8.8, the risk to organizations includes severe impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
This vulnerability has been classified as high risk due to its potential for remote exploitation, requiring user interaction. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code, leading to unauthorized access and control over affected systems. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to protect against potential exploitation.
The exploitation status of CVE-2021-21193 indicates that it is known to have been exploited in the wild, as it has been included in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog by CISA. This highlights the urgency for organizations to address this vulnerability promptly.
Organizations that utilize Google Chrome or any Chromium-based browsers, including Microsoft Edge and Opera, should remain vigilant and ensure that their systems are updated to the latest versions to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability is categorized under the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) ID CWE-416, which denotes a use-after-free condition. This vulnerability affects multiple versions of Google Chrome, particularly those released before 89.0.4389.90. The official CVSS score is 8.8, classifying it as high severity.
The vulnerability was published on March 16, 2021, and has since been analyzed. Organizations using affected versions must take action to remediate this vulnerability as soon as possible to prevent exploitation.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2021-21193 lies within the Blink engine of Google Chrome, where the improper handling of memory can lead to a use-after-free condition. This occurs when an application continues to use memory after it has been freed, leading to potential heap corruption.
The attack vector is network-based, requiring low complexity for exploitation. No privileges are required to exploit this vulnerability, but user interaction is necessary, as the victim must visit a crafted HTML page.
The confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts are all rated as high, indicating that successful exploitation could result in significant consequences for the affected systems.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world risk of CVE-2021-21193 is substantial, especially for organizations that rely on web applications or services using Google Chrome. Given the potential for remote code execution and the requirement for user interaction, the blast radius can be broad if users are lured to malicious websites.
Organizations should assess the impact of this vulnerability on their operations and prioritize remediation based on risk, especially considering its inclusion in the KEV catalog. The urgency for patching is critical to prevent unauthorized access and mitigate potential data breaches.
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | Yes |
Public PoC | Yes |
Actively Exploited | Yes |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The affected versions include Google Chrome prior to 89.0.4389.90, as well as Debian Linux 10.0 and Fedora 32. Organizations should ensure they are running the latest versions to mitigate this risk.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should apply updates as per vendor instructions. For Google Chrome, users should update to the latest version immediately. Additional recommendations include implementing network controls and monitoring for suspicious activities.
For ongoing security assessments, organizations can benefit from engaging in penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for unusual behavior associated with browser usage and keep an eye out for unexpected crashes or memory corruption issues, which may indicate attempted exploitation of this vulnerability.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2021-21193 underscores the importance of secure coding practices in web development. As attackers continuously seek to exploit vulnerabilities, it is crucial for security teams to adopt proactive measures.
This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the need for ongoing security assessments and the integration of security throughout the development lifecycle. For further guidance, organizations can refer to the penetration testing methodology to ensure their applications are resilient against similar threats.
Additionally, organizations should consider implementing a vulnerability management program to systematically address and remediate security weaknesses.
Lastly, the evolving landscape of vulnerabilities like CVE-2021-21193 highlights the need for continuous security education and awareness within organizations to effectively mitigate risks.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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