CVE-2021-3796
Description
A use-after-free vulnerability in vim could allow an attacker to input a specially crafted file leading to memory corruption and a potentially exploitable crash or code execution. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to data confidentiality and integrity as well as system availability.
Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details
Info alert:Important note
CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authority (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications).
CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
| Red Hat | NVD | cve.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 7.3 | 7.3 | 8.2 |
| Attack Vector | Local | Local | Network |
| Attack Complexity | Low | Low | Low |
| Privileges Required | None | None | Low |
| User Interaction | Required | Required | Required |
| Scope | Unchanged | Unchanged | Changed |
| Confidentiality | High | High | High |
| Integrity Impact | Low | Low | Low |
| Availability Impact | High | High | Low |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:H
NVD: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:H
cve.org: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:L
Red Hat CVSS v3 Score Explanation
We have scored "Attack Vector" to Local because the attacker has to be locally logged in to the system to be able to exploit the issue. "Integrity" is low because it does not corrupt or destroys any user data. "Availability" is low because vim can be restarted after the crash.
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Integrity
Technical Impact: Modify Memory
The use of previously freed memory may corrupt valid data, if the memory area in question has been allocated and used properly elsewhere.
Availability
Technical Impact: DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart
If chunk consolidation occurs after the use of previously freed data, the process may crash when invalid data is used as chunk information.
Confidentiality
Technical Impact: Read Memory
Read operations on freed memory can sometimes leak sensitive information instead of causing a crash
Integrity,Confidentiality,Availability
Technical Impact: Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands
If malicious data is entered before chunk consolidation can take place, it may be possible to take advantage of a write-what-where primitive to execute arbitrary code. If the newly allocated data happens to hold a class, in C++ for example, various function pointers may be scattered within the heap data. If one of these function pointers is overwritten with an address to valid shellcode, execution of arbitrary code can be achieved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not sure what something means? Check out our Security Glossary.
Want to get errata notifications? Sign up here.
