CVE-2021-41772 is a high-severity vulnerability discovered in the Go programming language. Specifically, it affects Go versions prior to 1.16.10 and 1.17.x before 1.17.3. This vulnerability allows for a panic condition during the execution of the archive/zip Reader.Open function, triggered by a crafted ZIP archive that contains an invalid name or an empty filename field. The nature of this flaw presents a significant risk, as it can lead to application crashes and denial of service for services relying on the Go programming framework.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 7.5, indicating it falls into the high severity category. The attack vector is classified as network-based, and the complexity is low, which means that no special conditions are required to successfully exploit this vulnerability. Importantly, attackers do not need any privileges or user interaction to exploit this flaw, which further elevates the risk to organizations using affected versions of Go.
Given the potential impact on availability, organizations utilizing vulnerable versions of Go should prioritize remediation efforts. The urgency of addressing this vulnerability is underscored by its capacity to disrupt applications, resulting in possible downtime and service degradation. Therefore, organizations are advised to patch their Go installations without delay.
As of now, there are no known exploits available in the wild, and no public proofs of concept have been confirmed. However, organizations must remain vigilant and proactive in their security posture to mitigate any potential risks associated with this vulnerability.
Vulnerability Details
The official description notes that this vulnerability allows an archive/zip Reader.Open panic via a crafted ZIP archive containing an invalid name or an empty filename field. The CVSS score of 7.5 indicates high severity, suggesting that the impact on availability is significant.
Affected products include versions of Go prior to 1.16.10 and 1.17.x before 1.17.3, as well as certain versions of Fedora and Oracle's TimesTen In-Memory Database.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the handling of ZIP archive files within the Go archive/zip library. The attack vector is network-based, enabling attackers to send crafted ZIP files to target systems. The attack complexity is low, allowing for straightforward exploitation without any special prerequisites.
No privileges are required for exploitation, as the vulnerability can be triggered without any user interaction. Consequently, the potential impact on availability is high, leading to application crashes and service interruptions.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world deployment of this vulnerability poses a significant risk to organizations using affected versions of Go. The potential for application disruption means that the blast radius could affect all services relying on the vulnerable library, leading to widespread service outages.
Given its high CVSS score, organizations should prioritize remediation efforts in their patch cycle. The urgency for action is critical, as failure to address this vulnerability may result in operational downtime and loss of customer trust.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
This vulnerability affects all versions of Go prior to 1.16.10 and all 1.17.x versions prior to 1.17.3. Additionally, it impacts Fedora versions 34 and 35, as well as Oracle's TimesTen In-Memory Database.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should update Go to version 1.16.10 or later, or to 1.17.3 or later if utilizing the 1.17.x branch. In cases where immediate patching is not possible, it is recommended to implement network controls to restrict access to vulnerable services.
For further guidance, organizations can refer to the penetration testing services offered by AppSecure to evaluate the security of their applications post-remediation.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation attempts, organizations should monitor logs for anomalies related to ZIP file processing. Additionally, behavioral anomalies in applications using the archive/zip functionality should be scrutinized closely.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2021-41772 highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date libraries within software development. This vulnerability represents a trend in software vulnerabilities where outdated libraries can introduce critical failings in application security.
Security teams should take this as a reminder of the necessity for continuous monitoring and updating of their software dependencies. It is vital to adopt a proactive approach to mitigate potential vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
For comprehensive assessments, organizations may consider engaging in application security assessments to identify and remediate similar weaknesses.
Furthermore, understanding the implications of vulnerabilities like CVE-2021-41772 can aid organizations in developing more robust security postures and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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