CVE-2021-30551 identifies a high-severity vulnerability in the V8 engine of Google Chrome, specifically affecting versions prior to 91.0.4472.101. This vulnerability allows a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption through a crafted HTML page. Given the CVSS score of 8.8, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to organizations that utilize the affected versions of Chrome. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access and compromise of sensitive data.
The urgency for defenders is critical; organizations must prioritize patching immediately. The vulnerability's attack vector is categorized as network-based with low complexity, meaning it can be exploited with minimal effort, especially with user interaction required. Therefore, a proactive approach to updating and securing systems is essential.
As of now, this vulnerability is included in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, indicating that it has been deemed actively exploited in the wild. Organizations should assess their exposure to this vulnerability and take immediate action to patch or mitigate the risks.
In summary, CVE-2021-30551 is a serious vulnerability within Google Chrome that requires urgent attention. Immediate patching is necessary to defend against potential exploitation and safeguard organizational assets.
Vulnerability Details
The official description of CVE-2021-30551 states that it is a type confusion vulnerability in the V8 engine of Google Chrome prior to version 91.0.4472.101, allowing a remote attacker to exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-843, indicating type confusion issues.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 8.8, which falls into the high severity category. The interpretation of this score indicates that the vulnerability poses a significant risk, with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts.
The vulnerability was published on June 15, 2021, and affects Google Chrome versions prior to 91.0.4472.101, as well as Fedora 33 and 34 operating systems. This highlights the need for organizations to be aware of their software versions and ensure they are updated promptly.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2021-30551 is identified as a type confusion vulnerability within the V8 engine of Google Chrome. This type of vulnerability occurs when a variable is treated as a different type than intended, leading to memory corruption.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is network-based, meaning that an attacker can exploit the vulnerability remotely without physical access to the target system. The attack complexity is low since it requires only user interaction, such as clicking a link or opening a malicious webpage.
Privileges required for successful exploitation are none, further increasing the risk associated with this vulnerability. User interaction is required, which means the user must perform an action to trigger the vulnerability. The impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability are all categorized as high, indicating a severe potential outcome if the vulnerability is exploited.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world risk associated with CVE-2021-30551 is significant. Organizations that fail to patch this vulnerability may face severe consequences, including data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and potential financial losses.
As the vulnerability affects widely used products like Google Chrome and potentially multiple browsers that utilize the Chromium engine, the blast radius is extensive. This means that a successful exploit could impact a large number of users and organizations.
Given that this vulnerability is included in the KEV catalog, it is classified as actively exploited which elevates the urgency for organizations to address this vulnerability. The EPSS score of 0.753 indicates a high probability of exploitation, emphasizing the critical need for immediate remediation.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | Yes |
Public PoC | Yes |
Actively Exploited | Yes |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
CVE-2021-30551 affects Google Chrome versions prior to 91.0.4472.101 and Fedora versions 33 and 34. Organizations running these versions should take immediate action to update their software.
Mitigation & Remediation
To mitigate the risk associated with CVE-2021-30551, organizations should apply the latest updates provided by Google for Chrome and relevant patches for Fedora systems. Regularly updating software is crucial to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.
In the absence of immediate patching, organizations should implement network controls to restrict access to vulnerable systems and enhance monitoring for unusual behavior indicative of potential exploitation.
For further guidance, organizations can refer to resources on penetration testing to validate their defenses.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for indicators of exploitation attempts, such as unusual user activities or unexpected system changes. Behavioral anomalies may signal attempts to exploit this vulnerability, warranting further investigation.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2021-30551 highlights the importance of robust security practices in software development and deployment. Organizations should learn from this incident and evaluate their security posture regarding similar vulnerabilities.
This vulnerability represents a trend towards increasing exploitation of web-based vulnerabilities, emphasizing the need for organizations to adopt a proactive approach to security. Regular security assessments and updates will help mitigate potential risks.
For more insights, organizations can explore resources on penetration testing methodology and the importance of a vulnerability management program in maintaining organizational security.
Additionally, understanding the significance of red teaming can provide organizations with insights into their security vulnerabilities and help them prepare for potential threats.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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