CVE-2019-9578 : Security Advisory and Response

CVE-2019-9578 was published on March 5, 2019, and affects Yubico libu2f-host version 1.1.8. The vulnerability in the devs.c file leads to uninitialized stack memory leakage during the initialization process.

Understanding CVE-2019-9578

This CVE entry highlights a specific bug in Yubico libu2f-host version 1.1.8 that results in a security issue due to misparsing of the response during initialization.

What is CVE-2019-9578?

In Yubico libu2f-host before version 1.1.8, the response to the initialization process is misparsed, causing uninitialized stack memory to be leaked back to the device.

The Impact of CVE-2019-9578

The vulnerability allows for the leakage of uninitialized stack memory, which can potentially be exploited by attackers to access sensitive information or execute arbitrary code.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-9578

This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The bug in the devs.c file of Yubico libu2f-host version 1.1.8 leads to the misparsing of the response during initialization, resulting in the leakage of uninitialized stack memory back to the device.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Yubico libu2f-host
Vendor: Yubico
Versions affected: 1.1.8

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can potentially exploit this vulnerability to gain access to uninitialized stack memory, which may contain sensitive data, and manipulate the device.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-9578 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Yubico libu2f-host to a patched version that addresses the vulnerability.
Monitor for any unusual activities on the affected systems.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and firmware to mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
Implement secure coding practices to prevent similar issues in the future.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all systems running Yubico libu2f-host are regularly patched with the latest updates to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.