CVE-2021-38578

Description

A flaw was found in edk2. A integer underflow in the SmmEntryPoint function leads to a write into the SMM region allowing a local attacker with administration privileges on the system to execute code within the SMM privileged context. 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 HatNVDcve.org
Base Score7.49.8N/A
Attack VectorLocalNetworkN/A
Attack ComplexityHighLowN/A
Privileges RequiredHighNoneN/A
User InteractionNoneNoneN/A
ScopeChangedUnchangedN/A
ConfidentialityHighHighN/A
Integrity ImpactHighHighN/A
Availability ImpactLowHighN/A

Vector

Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:L

NVD: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Red Hat CVSS v3 Score Explanation

Red Hat rates the CVSS Base Score metrics as determined by the upstream project (TianoCore).

Understanding the Weakness (CWE)

Integrity,Availability

Technical Impact: Modify Memory; DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart

Out of bounds memory access will very likely result in the corruption of relevant memory, and perhaps instructions, possibly leading to a crash.

Integrity,Confidentiality,Availability,Access Control,Other

Technical Impact: Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands; Modify Memory; Bypass Protection Mechanism; Other

If the corrupted memory can be effectively controlled, it may be possible to execute arbitrary code. If the corrupted memory is data rather than instructions, the system will continue to function with improper changes, possibly in violation of an implicit or explicit policy. The consequences would only be limited by how the affected data is used, such as an adjacent memory location that is used to specify whether the user has special privileges.

Access Control,Other

Technical Impact: Bypass Protection Mechanism; Other

When the consequence is arbitrary code execution, this can often be used to subvert any other security service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Want to get errata notifications? Sign up here.