CVE-2020-17437 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis
Discover the impact of CVE-2020-17437, a vulnerability in uIP 1.0 and Contiki 3.0. Learn about the exploitation mechanism, affected systems, and mitigation steps to secure your network.
An issue was discovered in uIP 1.0, as used in Contiki 3.0 and other products. When the Urgent flag is set in a TCP packet, and the stack is configured to ignore the urgent data, the stack attempts to use the value of the Urgent pointer bytes to separate the Urgent data from the normal data, by calculating the offset at which the normal data should be present in the global buffer. However, the length of this offset is not checked; therefore, for large values of the Urgent pointer bytes, the data pointer can point to memory that is way beyond the data buffer in uip_process in uip.c.
Understanding CVE-2020-17437
This section provides insights into the nature and impact of the CVE.
What is CVE-2020-17437?
CVE-2020-17437 is a vulnerability found in uIP 1.0, affecting Contiki 3.0 and other related products. It arises when the Urgent flag is activated in a TCP packet, leading to potential memory access issues.
The Impact of CVE-2020-17437
The vulnerability allows for potential exploitation by attackers to access memory beyond the data buffer, posing a risk of unauthorized data exposure or system compromise.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-17437
This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE.
Vulnerability Description
The issue stems from the mishandling of the Urgent flag in TCP packets, causing the stack to miscalculate offsets and potentially access memory outside the designated buffer.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: n/a
- Vendor: n/a
- Versions: n/a
Exploitation Mechanism
- When the Urgent flag is set in a TCP packet
- Stack configured to ignore urgent data
- Incorrect calculation of offset for normal data separation
- Potential access to memory beyond the data buffer
Mitigation and Prevention
This section outlines steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of the vulnerability.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply vendor patches or updates if available
- Implement network segmentation to limit exposure
- Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update software and firmware
- Conduct security assessments and audits
- Educate users on safe computing practices
Patching and Updates
- Stay informed about security advisories
- Apply patches promptly to address known vulnerabilities