Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Redis 6.2.0 through 6.2.2 contains an integer overflow that can corrupt memory and may allow remote code execution. The issue requires low Redis privileges and high attack complexity, but Redis often supports business-critical caching and queues, so exposed affected instances should be treated as high priority.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation for internet-accessible or shared Redis services first, then internal affected deployments. The patch is identified, the affected range is narrow, and the potential impact includes remote code execution, making this a practical high-priority maintenance item.
Technical view
CVE-2021-29478 is a CWE-190 integer overflow in Redis 6.2 before 6.2.3 involving the COPY command and large intsets. The advisory describes possible heap corruption and potential remote code execution. Redis 6.0 and earlier are not directly affected by this issue.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Redis versions 6.2.0, 6.2.1, and 6.2.2. Risk is higher where users can issue Redis commands and change set-max-intset-entries using CONFIG SET. Inventory should include packaged Redis from Linux distributions and any self-managed Redis deployments.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not show known active exploitation, and the CVE is not listed as KEV in the bundle. Exploitation is assessed as high complexity and requires low privileges, but successful exploitation could affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Researcher notes
Focus validation on version identification, ACL posture, and whether users can alter set-max-intset-entries. The source bundle supports patching to 6.2.3 and an ACL-based workaround; it does not provide evidence of in-the-wild exploitation.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade Redis 6.2 deployments to version 6.2.3 or later.
- Restrict unprivileged users from using CONFIG SET through Redis ACLs.
- Prevent users from modifying set-max-intset-entries where patching is delayed.
- Review Fedora, Gentoo, or relevant OS package advisories for distribution fixes.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Redis versions and flag 6.2.0 through 6.2.2.
- Review Redis ACLs for permission to run CONFIG SET.
- Check whether set-max-intset-entries can be modified by unprivileged users.
- Confirm patched package versions on Fedora, Gentoo, or other managed hosts.
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 lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupDatabase behavior lookup
The CVE wording references database injection or access, so collection and exfiltration review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-29478 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
- 7.5 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.65.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.5HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://redis.io/CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/redis/redis/security/advisories/GHSA-qh52-crrg-44g3CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- FEDORA-2021-3b267a756cCVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_FEDORA
- FEDORA-2021-8b19c99d6aCVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_FEDORA
- GLSA-202107-20CVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_GENTOO
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.