CVE-2021-28041 is a high-severity vulnerability found in OpenSSH prior to version 8.5. The vulnerability is characterized by a double free condition in the ssh-agent, which could be exploited in specific scenarios such as unconstrained agent-socket access on legacy operating systems or agent forwarding to an attacker-controlled host. This situation presents significant risks to systems utilizing OpenSSH, especially when legacy protocols are in play.
With a CVSS score of 7.1, this vulnerability is classified as high severity. The potential impacts include high confidentiality, integrity, and availability risks. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access and control over affected systems, making it imperative for organizations to address this issue promptly.
Currently, there is no public exploit confirmed for this vulnerability, but the nature of the issue allows for potential risk. Organizations utilizing affected versions of OpenSSH should prioritize patching to version 8.5 or later to eliminate this risk. Urgency for defenders is critical given the potential for exploitation.
Organizations should take immediate action to ensure their systems are updated and secure against potential exploitation of CVE-2021-28041.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability described by CVE-2021-28041 relates to the ssh-agent in OpenSSH versions prior to 8.5. The official description states that it involves a double free issue, which could be exploited in scenarios such as unconstrained agent-socket access on legacy operating systems or agent forwarding to an attacker-controlled host.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 7.1, indicating a high level of severity. It has significant impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The CWE classification for this vulnerability is CWE-415, indicating a double free vulnerability.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2021-28041 is a double free condition that occurs when the ssh-agent attempts to free memory that has already been freed. This vulnerability is primarily exploitable through network access, requiring low privileges and user interaction. The attack complexity is considered high, meaning that successful exploitation may require a sophisticated attacker.
If exploited, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access, allowing an attacker to manipulate or monitor sensitive information. Confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts are all rated as high, indicating the severity of this issue. Organizations should be particularly cautious of legacy systems which may be more susceptible to this type of attack.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The risk to organizations includes potential unauthorized access to sensitive systems and data. Given the nature of the vulnerability, the blast radius could be significant, especially in environments that use legacy systems or have improperly configured agent forwarding. The urgency for organizations to patch this vulnerability is high, as attackers may attempt to exploit this flaw if they identify vulnerable systems.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
Affected versions include OpenSSH versions prior to 8.5, Fedora versions 33 and 34, and several NetApp products including cloud_backup, hci_management_node, and solidfire. Organizations should ensure they update to secure versions to mitigate this vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
To remediate this vulnerability, organizations should update OpenSSH to version 8.5 or later. Additional measures include reviewing configuration settings for ssh-agent and implementing network controls to limit access to agent-socket.
For further details on penetration testing and security assessments, organizations may consider penetration testing services to validate their security posture.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for unusual ssh-agent activity and analyze behavioral anomalies that may indicate exploitation attempts. Network signatures should also be established to detect unauthorized access attempts.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2021-28041 highlights the critical need for organizations to maintain updated systems and security practices. The increasing reliance on open-source software introduces potential vulnerabilities that can be exploited if not properly managed. Security teams should implement effective vulnerability management programs to identify and address risks proactively.
For more information on best practices for vulnerability management, organizations can refer to the vulnerability management program design and consider engaging in penetration testing methodologies for further insights.
Additionally, organizations are encouraged to stay informed about trends in vulnerabilities and exploits to enhance their security posture.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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