CVE-2021-3449: Openssl src Openssl-src NULL Pointer Dereference Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-83mx-573x-5rw9
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CVSS 5.9
CWE-476
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2021-3449 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.9) openssl-src null pointer dereference vulnerability (CWE-476: NULL Pointer Dereference) affecting Openssl src libraries in the crates.io ecosystem. The issue involves openssl-src null pointer dereference in signature_algorithms processing. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 111.15.0.

CVE-2021-3449 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2021-3449
GHSA Identifier GHSA-83mx-573x-5rw9
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.9
CWE Classification CWE-476: NULL Pointer Dereference
Affected Product Openssl src
Package Ecosystem crates.io
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.9

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity High (AC:H)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality None (C:N)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2021-3449

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Openssl src dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

openssl-src fixed: 111.15.0 
Upgrade openssl-src to 111.15.0
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

inspect dependencies for openssl-src

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2021-3449, inspect your project dependencies for Openssl src:

inspect dependencies for openssl-src

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Openssl src in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 111.15.0), your application is affected.

Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-476: NULL Pointer Dereference, where the product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is null. In Openssl src, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

An OpenSSL TLS server may crash if sent a maliciously crafted renegotiation ClientHello message from a client. If a TLSv1.2 renegotiation ClientHello omits the signature_algorithms extension (where it was present in the initial ClientHello), but includes a signature_algorithms_cert extension then a NULL pointer dereference will result, leading to a crash and a denial of service attack. A server is only vulnerable if it has TLSv1.2 and renegotiation enabled (which is the default configuration). OpenSSL TLS clients are not impacted by this issue. All OpenSSL 1.1.1 versions are affected by this issue. Users of these versions should upgrade to OpenSSL 1.1.1k. OpenSSL 1.0.2 is not impacted by this issue. Fixed in OpenSSL 1.1.1k (Affected 1.1.1-1.1.1j).

CVE-2021-3449 Affected Openssl src Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
111.15.0
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
openssl-src
 crates.io
< 111.15.0
111.15.0

References

NVD — CVE-2021-3449 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-3449
Openssl src Security Information SECURITY
https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2021-10
Openssl src Security Information SECURITY
https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2021-09
Openssl src Security Information SECURITY
https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2021-06
Openssl src Security Information SECURITY
https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2021-05
Openssl src Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2021.html
Openssl src Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2022.html
Openssl src Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html
Openssl src Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuApr2021.html
Openssl src Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com//security-alerts/cpujul2021.html
www.openssl.org/news/secadv/2021032... WEB
https://www.openssl.org/news/secadv/20210325.txt
Openssl src Security Information SECURITY
https://www.debian.org/security/2021/dsa-4875
Openssl src Security Information SECURITY
https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-openssl-2021-GHY28dJd
Openssl src Security Information SECURITY
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210513-0002
Openssl src Security Information SECURITY
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210326-0006
Openssl src Security Information SECURITY
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202103-03
Openssl src Security Information SECURITY
https://security.FreeBSD.org/advisories/FreeBSD-SA-21:07.openssl.asc
rustsec.org/advisories/rustsec-... WEB
https://rustsec.org/advisories/RUSTSEC-2021-0055.html
rustsec.org/advisories/rustsec-... WEB
https://rustsec.org/advisories/RUSTSEC-2021-0055
psirt.global.sonicwall.com/vuln-detail/snwlid-... WEB
https://psirt.global.sonicwall.com/vuln-detail/SNWLID-2021-0013
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/CCBFLLVQVILIVGZMBJL3IXZGKWQISYNP
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce... WEB
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/08/msg00029.html
kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index WEB
https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=SB10356
Openssl src Security Information SECURITY
https://kb.pulsesecure.net/articles/Pulse_Security_Advisories/SA44845
Openssl src Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/alexcrichton/openssl-src-rs
git.openssl.org/gitweb/ WEB
https://git.openssl.org/gitweb/?p=openssl.git;a=commitdiff;h=fb9fa6b51defd48157eeb207f52181f735d96148
cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa... WEB
https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-772220.pdf
cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa... WEB
https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-389290.pdf
Openssl src Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/03/27/1
Openssl src Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/03/27/2
Openssl src Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/03/28/3
Openssl src Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/03/28/4

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-3449?
CVE-2021-3449 is a security vulnerability in Openssl src involving openssl-src NULL pointer Dereference in signature_algorithms processing under CWE-476: NULL Pointer Dereference.
Which Openssl src versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 111.15.0 across affected packages: openssl-src.
What version fixes CVE-2021-3449?
Upgrading to 111.15.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is openssl-src affected?
Yes, openssl-src is affected in releases prior to 111.15.0. Upgrade your dependency to 111.15.0 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-3449?
CVE-2021-3449 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.9 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2021-3449?
CVE-2021-3449 is classified under CWE-476: NULL Pointer Dereference (The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL.).
How can I check crates.io dependencies for CVE-2021-3449?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for openssl-src'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
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    "type" : "WEB",
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    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com//security-alerts/cpujul2021.html"
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    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.debian.org/security/2021/dsa-4875"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-openssl-2021-GHY28dJd"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210513-0002"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210326-0006"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202103-03"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.FreeBSD.org/advisories/FreeBSD-SA-21:07.openssl.asc"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://rustsec.org/advisories/RUSTSEC-2021-0055.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://rustsec.org/advisories/RUSTSEC-2021-0055"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://psirt.global.sonicwall.com/vuln-detail/SNWLID-2021-0013"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/CCBFLLVQVILIVGZMBJL3IXZGKWQISYNP"
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    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/08/msg00029.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=SB10356"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://kb.pulsesecure.net/articles/Pulse_Security_Advisories/SA44845"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/alexcrichton/openssl-src-rs"
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}