CVE-2019-5102 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

A vulnerability has been found in the ustream-ssl library of OpenWrt, affecting versions 18.06.4 and 15.05.1. This vulnerability allows for a man-in-the-middle attack, potentially leading to data theft.

Understanding CVE-2019-5102

This CVE identifies a security flaw in OpenWrt's ustream-ssl library that could be exploited by attackers.

What is CVE-2019-5102?

The vulnerability in the ustream-ssl library of OpenWrt versions 18.06.4 and 15.05.1 allows attackers to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks, compromising data integrity.

The Impact of CVE-2019-5102

The vulnerability enables attackers to intercept data during SSL certificate validation, potentially leading to data theft.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-5102

This section provides technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

When an invalid SSL certificate is encountered, OpenWrt fails to take further action, allowing attackers to supply fraudulent certificates and intercept data.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: OpenWRT
Affected Versions:
OpenWrt 15.05.1, via wget (busybox)
OpenWrt 18.06.4, via wget (uclient-fetch)

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by conducting man-in-the-middle attacks, supplying fake SSL certificates to intercept and steal data.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-5102 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update OpenWrt to a patched version that addresses the SSL certificate validation issue.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activities that may indicate a man-in-the-middle attack.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strong encryption protocols and certificate validation mechanisms.
Regularly update and patch software to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
Educate users and administrators about the risks of man-in-the-middle attacks.
Employ network monitoring tools to detect and prevent unauthorized access.
Conduct security audits and assessments periodically to identify and address potential security gaps.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that OpenWrt is updated to the latest version that includes a fix for the SSL certificate validation vulnerability.