CVE-2019-14818 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability in multiple versions of dpdk could allow a malicious actor to trigger a denial of service attack by exploiting specially crafted messages.

Understanding CVE-2019-14818

This CVE identifies a security issue in various versions of dpdk that could lead to a denial of service situation.

What is CVE-2019-14818?

The vulnerability in dpdk versions prior to specific releases allows a malicious master or container with vhost_user socket access to send specially crafted messages, potentially resulting in a memory leak and denial of service.

The Impact of CVE-2019-14818

Exploiting this vulnerability could lead to a denial of service situation, causing a disruption in services and potentially affecting system availability.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-14818

This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in dpdk versions prior to certain releases enables attackers to send malicious VRING_SET_NUM messages, leading to memory leaks and potential denial of service.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: DPDK
Product: dpdk
Affected Versions:
all dpdk version 17.x.x before 17.11.8
all dpdk version 16.x.x before 16.11.10
all dpdk version 18.x.x before 18.11.4
all dpdk version 19.x.x before 19.08.1

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by sending specially crafted VRING_SET_NUM messages through a malicious master or container with access to vhost_user socket, causing memory leaks and potential denial of service.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-14818 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches provided by the vendor to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any signs of exploitation.
Restrict access to vhost_user socket to trusted entities only.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and audits to identify and address potential weaknesses.
Educate users and administrators on secure coding practices and threat awareness.

Patching and Updates

Refer to vendor advisories for specific patch information and update guidelines.