Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CycloneDDS versions before 0.8.0 contain a memory-write flaw in XML parsing. An attacker with local access and low privileges could potentially alter memory, affecting confidentiality, integrity, and especially availability. The main business risk is disruption on systems that rely on CycloneDDS, particularly operational or embedded deployments.
Executive priority
Treat as a moderate-priority remediation item. It is not described as remotely exploitable or actively exploited in the provided sources, but availability impact is high and operational systems using CycloneDDS should be upgraded during the next controlled maintenance window.
Technical view
CVE-2021-38441 is a CWE-123 write-what-where condition in Eclipse CycloneDDS before 0.8.0. The CVSS 3.1 vector is AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H, indicating local, low-complexity exploitation requiring low privileges and no user interaction, with high availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to systems running Eclipse CycloneDDS before 0.8.0 where an attacker can obtain local low-privileged access. The bundle does not identify specific downstream products, default configurations, or internet-facing exposure paths.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not report active exploitation, and the CVE is not listed as KEV in the bundle. The CVSS vector indicates exploitation requires local access and low privileges, reducing remote mass-exploitation risk but still mattering on shared, operational, or robotics systems.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE description, CVSS vector, affected version boundary, CWE, and public references. The bundle does not provide exploit details, vulnerable code paths beyond the XML parser, vendor patch notes, or proof-of-concept status.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory systems and applications using Eclipse CycloneDDS.
- Upgrade CycloneDDS deployments to version 0.8.0 or later.
- Check CISA and Eclipse guidance for deployment-specific mitigations.
- Review local account access on systems running affected versions.
Validation and detection
- Confirm CycloneDDS version across packages, containers, firmware, and bundled dependencies.
- Flag any CycloneDDS version earlier than 0.8.0 as affected.
- Verify XML parsing paths are not exposed to untrusted local users.
- Document compensating controls where immediate upgrade is not possible.
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
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CWE-123: Exact CWE lookup
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Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-38441 mapping review
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Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 6.6 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/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:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H1.84.7Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
6.6MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.cisa.gov/uscert/ics/advisories/icsa-21-315-02CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://projects.eclipse.org/projects/iot.cycloneddsCVE 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.
Write-what-where Condition
Write-what-where Condition represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.