Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-22680 affects NXP MQX 5.1 and earlier. A memory allocation integer overflow can cause crashes or potentially allow remote code execution. Treat this as important for embedded or industrial systems that still rely on MQX, but the provided sources do not show confirmed active exploitation.
Executive priority
Prioritize discovery first, then remediation for exposed embedded systems. The business risk is operational disruption or compromise of devices running older MQX-based firmware, but urgency should be calibrated because active exploitation is not confirmed in the supplied evidence.
Technical view
The issue is CWE-190 integer overflow or wraparound in MQX mem_alloc, _lwmem_alloc, and _partition functions. The CVSS 3.1 score is 7.3 with network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges, and no user interaction. The source bundle reports possible arbitrary memory allocation, crash, or remote code injection/execution.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to products or firmware using NXP MQX versions 5.1 and prior. The source bundle does not identify specific downstream device models, deployment sectors, or CPEs, so asset owners must validate embedded firmware and supplier documentation.
Exploitation context
CISA KEV is false for this CVE in the supplied bundle. No cited source confirms exploitation in the wild or public weaponization. Risk still matters because the CVSS vector indicates unauthenticated network reachability and potential remote code execution impact.
Researcher notes
Evidence names vulnerable allocator functions and broad impact, but does not provide affected downstream devices, exploit prerequisites beyond CVSS, or fixed versions. Avoid assuming all NXP-based products are affected; validate MQX usage and version at firmware or vendor level.
Mitigation direction
- Identify systems and firmware that include NXP MQX 5.1 or earlier.
- Review the CISA advisory and NXP guidance for supported fixes or compensating controls.
- Prioritize remediation for network-reachable embedded or industrial devices.
- Limit untrusted network access to affected devices while vendor guidance is evaluated.
- Request exposure and patch status from device vendors using MQX-based firmware.
Validation and detection
- Check firmware bills of materials for NXP MQX and version details.
- Confirm whether affected allocation functions are present in the deployed firmware branch.
- Map network paths to devices running MQX 5.1 or prior.
- Review vendor advisories for fixed firmware or supported upgrade paths.
- Document devices where MQX presence cannot be confirmed from available evidence.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-190: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-22680 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.3 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L3.93.4Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.3HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.cisa.gov/uscert/ics/advisories/icsa-21-119-04CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Integer Overflow or Wraparound
Integer Overflow or Wraparound represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.