CVE-2019-13050 : What You Need to Know
Learn about CVE-2019-13050 involving a denial of service risk in sks-keyserver code and GnuPG versions. Find out how to mitigate this vulnerability and prevent potential attacks.
This CVE involves a vulnerability in the sks-keyserver code up to version 1.2.0 and GnuPG up to version 2.2.16, which can lead to a denial of service risk when configuring a GnuPG keyserver to refer to a host on the SKS keyserver network.
Understanding CVE-2019-13050
The interaction between the sks-keyserver code and GnuPG versions mentioned poses a security risk that could result in a persistent denial of service due to a Certificate Spamming Attack.
What is CVE-2019-13050?
The use of specific versions of sks-keyserver code and GnuPG together can create a vulnerability that may lead to a denial of service risk when configuring a GnuPG keyserver to refer to a host on the SKS keyserver network.
The Impact of CVE-2019-13050
The configuration described in this CVE can result in a persistent denial of service due to a Certificate Spamming Attack, making it unsafe to retrieve data from the SKS keyserver network.
Technical Details of CVE-2019-13050
This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability arises from the interaction between the sks-keyserver code up to version 1.2.0 and GnuPG up to version 2.2.16, which can lead to a denial of service risk when configuring a GnuPG keyserver to refer to a host on the SKS keyserver network.
Affected Systems and Versions
- SKS keyserver code up to version 1.2.0
- GnuPG up to version 2.2.16
Exploitation Mechanism
The risk occurs when configuring a GnuPG keyserver to refer to a host on the SKS keyserver network, potentially leading to a persistent denial of service due to a Certificate Spamming Attack.
Mitigation and Prevention
It is crucial to take immediate steps to address and prevent the exploitation of this vulnerability.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Disable configurations that refer to hosts on the SKS keyserver network
- Implement network segmentation to limit exposure
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update GnuPG and sks-keyserver to patched versions
- Monitor for any unusual network activity that could indicate an attack
Patching and Updates
- Apply patches provided by the respective vendors to address the vulnerability