CVE-2020-9431 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Wireshark versions 3.2.0 to 3.2.1, 3.0.0 to 3.0.8, and 2.6.0 to 2.6.14 are affected by a memory leak vulnerability in the LTE RRC dissector.

Understanding CVE-2020-9431

This CVE involves a memory leak issue in the LTE RRC dissector in specific Wireshark versions.

What is CVE-2020-9431?

In Wireshark versions 3.2.0 to 3.2.1, 3.0.0 to 3.0.8, and 2.6.0 to 2.6.14, the LTE RRC dissector could leak memory due to certain append operations.

The Impact of CVE-2020-9431

This vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker to leak sensitive information from the affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-9431

Wireshark versions 3.2.0 to 3.2.1, 3.0.0 to 3.0.8, and 2.6.0 to 2.6.14 are susceptible to a memory leak vulnerability in the LTE RRC dissector.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from improper memory handling in the LTE RRC dissector, leading to memory leakage.

Affected Systems and Versions

Wireshark 3.2.0 to 3.2.1
Wireshark 3.0.0 to 3.0.8
Wireshark 2.6.0 to 2.6.14

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to extract sensitive data from the affected systems by manipulating certain append operations.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2020-9431, follow these steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Wireshark to the latest patched version.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Wireshark and other software to mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of any successful exploitation.

Patching and Updates

Apply the latest security patches and updates provided by Wireshark to fix the memory leak vulnerability.