CVE-2021-43313:Heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in UPX during ELF file processing.

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CVE-2021-43313 affects UPX (Ultimate Packer for eXecutables), a popular executable compression tool. A heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability was discovered in the PackLinuxElf32::invert_pt_dynamic function at p_lx_elf.cpp:1688. The vulnerability occurs when the variable 'bucket' points to an inaccessible memory address, which can lead to memory corruption and potentially allow attackers to execute arbitrary code by providing specially crafted ELF files for compression or decompression.

Overview

UPX is a free and open-source executable packer used to compress and decompress executable files. The vulnerability exists in the ELF file processing component of UPX, specifically in the Linux ELF32 handling code. When processing certain malformed ELF files, the invert_pt_dynamic function can access memory outside of allocated bounds through the 'bucket' variable, causing a heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-787). This could potentially be exploited by attackers to cause denial of service conditions or possibly execute arbitrary code in the context of the user running UPX.

Remediation

Users should update to a patched version of UPX as soon as available. Until then, the following mitigations are recommended:

  1. Avoid processing untrusted or unknown ELF files with UPX
  2. Run UPX in a sandboxed environment when processing files from untrusted sources
  3. Monitor the official UPX repository for security updates and patches
  4. Consider implementing additional validation of input files before processing them with UPX

References

  1. GitHub Issue and Patch: https://github.com/upx/upx/issues/378
  2. CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write - https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/787.html

Industry ExposureMost to least
This section illustrates the prevalence of a specific Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) across various industries based on customer reports. The ranking displays industries from the most to least affected by this particular vulnerability, offering valuable insight into where this CVE has been most frequently observed. This information can help organizations within these sectors prioritize their security efforts, understand their relative risk exposure compared to their peers, and focus remediation strategies where they are most needed. By understanding the industry-specific impact, organizations can make more informed decisions regarding patching, resource allocation, and overall risk management related to this CVE.

  1. Manufacturing
    Manufacturing
  2. Transportation & Warehousing
    Transportation & Warehousing
  3. Accommodation & Food Services
    Accommodation & Food Services
  4. Administrative, Support, Waste Management & Remediation Services
    Administrative, Support, Waste Management & Remediation Services
  5. Agriculture, Forestry Fishing & Hunting
    Agriculture, Forestry Fishing & Hunting
  6. Arts, Entertainment & Recreation
    Arts, Entertainment & Recreation
  7. Construction
    Construction
  8. Educational Services
    Educational Services
  9. Finance and Insurance
    Finance and Insurance
  10. Health Care & Social Assistance
    Health Care & Social Assistance
  11. Information
    Information
  12. Management of Companies & Enterprises
    Management of Companies & Enterprises
  13. Mining
    Mining
  14. Other Services (except Public Administration)
    Other Services (except Public Administration)
  15. Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services
    Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services
  16. Public Administration
    Public Administration
  17. Real Estate Rental & Leasing
    Real Estate Rental & Leasing
  18. Retail Trade
    Retail Trade
  19. Utilities
    Utilities
  20. Wholesale Trade
    Wholesale Trade

Focus on What Matters

  1. See Everything.
  2. Identify True Risk.
  3. Proactively Mitigate Threats.

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