CVE-2020-12604 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Envoy version 1.14.2, 1.13.2, 1.12.4, or earlier is susceptible to increased memory usage due to a specific HTTP/2 client behavior.

Understanding CVE-2020-12604

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in Envoy that can lead to memory consumption issues under certain conditions.

What is CVE-2020-12604?

Envoy versions 1.14.2, 1.13.2, 1.12.4, or older are affected by a flaw where an HTTP/2 client requesting a large payload without sending sufficient window updates may cause increased memory usage.

The Impact of CVE-2020-12604

The vulnerability can result in excessive memory consumption in scenarios where an HTTP/2 client fails to manage stream consumption effectively.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-12604

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

Envoy versions 1.14.2, 1.13.2, 1.12.4, or earlier are prone to heightened memory usage when an HTTP/2 client requests a large payload but neglects to send adequate window updates to consume the entire stream without resetting it.

Affected Systems and Versions

Envoy versions 1.14.2, 1.13.2, 1.12.4, or earlier

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability arises when an HTTP/2 client requests a substantial payload but fails to send enough window updates to fully consume the stream without resetting it, leading to increased memory usage.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-12604 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Envoy to a non-vulnerable version
Monitor memory usage closely
Implement network-level protections

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Envoy to the latest secure versions
Educate users on proper HTTP/2 client behavior

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by Envoy to address the memory usage vulnerability