CVE-2021-4048 is a critical out-of-bounds read vulnerability found in the CLARRV, DLARRV, SLARRV, and ZLARRV functions of lapack through version 3.10.0. This vulnerability also affects OpenBLAS prior to version 0.3.18. Specially crafted inputs passed to these functions may cause applications utilizing lapack to crash or potentially expose portions of their memory.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 9.1, categorizing it as critical. This high score indicates a significant risk to organizations, especially those utilizing the affected libraries in applications that handle sensitive data.
Currently, there are no known exploits available for this vulnerability, but the potential for exploitation exists. Organizations should prioritize patching this vulnerability immediately to mitigate risks associated with potential attacks.
The urgency for defenders is high due to the critical nature of the vulnerability and the potential impact on application stability and data confidentiality.
Vulnerability Details
An out-of-bounds read flaw was found in the CLARRV, DLARRV, SLARRV, and ZLARRV functions in lapack through version 3.10.0, as also used in OpenBLAS before version 0.3.18. Specially crafted inputs passed to these functions could cause an application using lapack to crash or possibly disclose portions of its memory.
CVE-2021-4048 has been classified with a CVSS version 3.1 score of 9.1, indicating a critical severity level. The vulnerability can be exploited over a network with low complexity, and it requires no privileges or user interaction, which increases its exploitability.
The affected products include lapack, OpenBLAS, and Julia, with various versions specified. The vulnerability has been registered under CWE-125, indicating an out-of-bounds read error.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in how the CLARRV, DLARRV, SLARRV, and ZLARRV functions handle input data. If the input is not carefully validated, it can lead to reading beyond the allocated memory bounds, causing applications to crash or disclose sensitive information.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is network-based, and the complexity of execution is low, making it easy for potential attackers to exploit. No privileges are required, and user interaction is not necessary.
In terms of impact, the vulnerability significantly affects confidentiality due to the potential exposure of sensitive memory contents. It also has a high impact on availability, as it can lead to application crashes, disrupting service.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world deployment risk associated with CVE-2021-4048 is significant. Organizations utilizing the affected versions of lapack and OpenBLAS should recognize that the vulnerability can lead to application crashes and data leaks. This risk is compounded in environments that process sensitive information or rely heavily on the affected libraries for critical functionality.
The blast radius potential is considerable, particularly for organizations using these libraries in a wide range of applications. The urgency for remediation is underscored by the critical CVSS score, and organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The following versions are affected by CVE-2021-4048: - lapack: All versions through 3.10.0 - OpenBLAS: All versions prior to 0.3.18 - Julia: Versions up to 1.6.3, and various beta versions of 1.7.0 - Various Red Hat components including ceph_storage and enterprise_linux.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately. Updated versions of lapack and OpenBLAS are available to address this vulnerability. For systems that cannot be immediately patched, consider implementing network controls to restrict access to affected applications and monitoring to detect anomalies that may indicate exploitation attempts.
For more comprehensive security measures, organizations should evaluate their application security posture through application security assessments and consider regular penetration testing to identify potential vulnerabilities.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation of CVE-2021-4048, organizations should monitor logs for unusual error messages related to lapack or OpenBLAS functions. Behavioral anomalies in applications utilizing these libraries should also be flagged for further investigation.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2021-4048 lies in its demonstration of how critical libraries can introduce severe vulnerabilities due to inadequate input validation. Security teams must remain vigilant and adopt a proactive approach to address similar vulnerabilities across their technology stacks.
This vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing thorough testing practices and timely patch management to mitigate risks. Organizations should also consider engaging in red teaming services to assess their defenses against such vulnerabilities.
Finally, ongoing security training for development teams is crucial to ensure that best practices in coding and vulnerability management are followed. Resources such as security awareness programs can help in fostering a culture of security within organizations.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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