CVE-2020-12135 : What You Need to Know

A vulnerability in bson before version 0.8 could lead to an integer overflow, potentially exploited through crafted bson input.

Understanding CVE-2020-12135

This CVE involves the incorrect use of int instead of size_t in bson, leading to possible integer overflow.

What is CVE-2020-12135?

The vulnerability in bson before version 0.8 allows for an integer overflow due to the improper use of int instead of size_t in various variables, parameters, and return values. Specifically, the bson_ensure_space() function's parameter bytesNeeded is susceptible to integer overflow when manipulated with carefully crafted bson input.

The Impact of CVE-2020-12135

The vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker to trigger an integer overflow, potentially leading to a denial of service or arbitrary code execution.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-12135

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from bson before version 0.8 using int instead of size_t for critical variables, parameters, and return values, potentially causing an integer overflow.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Versions affected: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited through carefully crafted bson input, manipulating the bytesNeeded parameter in the bson_ensure_space() function to trigger an integer overflow.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-12135 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches or updates provided by the vendor to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor for any unusual activities that could indicate exploitation of the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to ensure the latest security patches are in place.
Conduct security assessments and code reviews to identify and address similar vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that the affected systems are patched with the latest updates to address the vulnerability.