Invalid Pointer Vulnerability in GNU patch
Summary
CVE-2021-45261: An Invalid Pointer vulnerability exists in GNU patch 2.7 via the another_hunk function, which causes a Denial of Service. Affects patch versions 2.7.6-7 – 2.8-2. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
GNU patch is a utility that applies diffs to original files, allowing users to update or modify files based on changes made in a patch file. It is commonly used in software development and system administration tasks. The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-45261 affects versions of the patch package in Debian 10, 11, 12, and 13. This vulnerability can lead to a Denial of Service (DoS) attack.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability, known as CVE-2021-45261, is an Invalid Pointer vulnerability that exists in GNU patch 2.7. It is triggered by the another_hunk function. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability to cause a DoS condition, potentially disrupting the availability of the affected system. The vulnerability has a CVSSv3 score of 5.5, indicating a moderate severity level.
How To Fix
No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.
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Workaround
At the moment, there is no known workaround for this vulnerability. It is crucial to apply the official patch or update the package to the latest version as soon as possible.
Conclusion
The Invalid Pointer vulnerability in GNU patch (CVE-2021-45261) can lead to a Denial of Service condition. It is important to update the patch package to the latest version or apply the official security patches as soon as possible. For further support on vulnerability remediation, you can reach out to DevNack.com.
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FAQ
GNU patch is a utility that applies diffs to original files, allowing users to update or modify files based on changes made in a patch file. It is commonly used in software development and system administration tasks.
An Invalid Pointer vulnerability occurs when a program attempts to access or manipulate memory using an invalid pointer. This can lead to various issues, including crashes, memory corruption, and potential security vulnerabilities.
A Denial of Service (DoS) attack is an attempt to disrupt the availability of a system or network by overwhelming it with a flood of illegitimate requests or excessive resource consumption. In the case of this vulnerability, an attacker can exploit it to cause a DoS condition on the affected system.
The severity level of this vulnerability is moderate, with a CVSSv3 score of 5.5. While it can lead to a Denial of Service condition, it does not have the potential for remote code execution or privilege escalation.
You can use Vulert's playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application or system is affected by this vulnerability. Vulert monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities, using just a manifest file like package-lock.json.
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