CVE-2023-24817 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This CVE record pertains to a vulnerability found in RIOT-OS, specifically a network stack issue that could lead to out of bounds write in routing with SRH.

Understanding CVE-2023-24817

This section delves into the details of CVE-2023-24817, highlighting the vulnerability, its impact, technical aspects, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-24817?

CVE-2023-24817 involves a vulnerability in RIOT-OS, an operating system designed for Internet of Things (IoT) devices. The issue lies in the network stack's handling of 6LoWPAN frames, where an attacker could exploit the system to trigger an integer underflow and gain unauthorized access to the packet buffer. This could potentially lead to denial of service by corrupting other packets or the allocator metadata.

The Impact of CVE-2023-24817

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as high, with a CVSS base score of 7.5. The attack vector is through the network, and if exploited successfully, it can result in high availability impact. The issue does not impact confidentiality or integrity but can disrupt the service.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-24817

In this section, we explore the technical aspects of CVE-2023-24817, including vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows an attacker to send a specially crafted frame to the device, causing an integer underflow and out of bounds access in the packet buffer. This can lead to corruption of other packets or the allocator metadata, eventually resulting in denial of service.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects RIOT-OS versions earlier than 2023.04. Devices running versions prior to this are vulnerable to exploitation if the SRH feature in the network stack is enabled.

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker needs to send a manipulated frame at the right moment to trigger the integer underflow and gain unauthorized access to the packet buffer.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section focuses on strategies to mitigate the impact of CVE-2023-24817 and prevent its exploitation in RIOT-OS environments.

Immediate Steps to Take

To address this vulnerability immediately, users are advised to update their RIOT-OS installations to version 2023.04 or later, where the issue has been fixed. Additionally, disabling the SRH feature in the network stack can serve as a temporary workaround until the system is updated.

Long-Term Security Practices

In the long term, users should implement robust cybersecurity practices, including regular software updates, security monitoring, and threat intelligence sharing to stay ahead of potential vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Regularly monitoring security advisories from RIOT-OS and applying patches promptly is crucial to safeguarding IoT devices and networks against emerging threats like CVE-2023-24817.