CVE-2021-31523
7.8 · HIGHOverview
CVE-2021-31523 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting xscreensaver_project xscreensaver. It was published on April 21, 2021 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 (HIGH).
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8, rated HIGH. It requires local or adjacent network access to exploit. Some level of privileges is required for exploitation.
Technical Description
The Debian xscreensaver 5.42+dfsg1-1 package for XScreenSaver has cap_net_raw enabled for the /usr/libexec/xscreensaver/sonar file, which allows local users to gain privileges because this is arguably incompatible with the design of the Mesa 3D Graphics library dependency.
Remediation
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from xscreensaver_project. Update xscreensaver to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2021-31523?
CVE-2021-31523 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting xscreensaver_project xscreensaver. It was published on April 21, 2021 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 (HIGH).
How severe is CVE-2021-31523?
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8, rated HIGH. It requires local or adjacent network access to exploit. Some level of privileges is required for exploitation.
How do I fix or remediate CVE-2021-31523?
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from xscreensaver_project. Update xscreensaver to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2021-31523?
CyberStrike's AI-powered security agents can automatically detect CVE-2021-31523 across your infrastructure using autonomous pentesting, DAST scanning, and HackBrowser. The platform continuously monitors for known vulnerabilities and provides actionable remediation guidance prioritized by real-world exploitability.
How CyberStrike Helps
AI agents map your attack surface to find vulnerabilities like this one.
Automated penetration testing that runs continuously, not just quarterly.
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