CVE-2023-2905 : What You Need to Know

This CVE details a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in Cesanta Mongoose, affecting version 7.10 and potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code.

Understanding CVE-2023-2905

This section provides a deeper insight into the vulnerability and its impact on Cesanta Mongoose users.

What is CVE-2023-2905?

The vulnerability stems from a failure to properly validate the length of a provided MQTT_CMD_PUBLISH parsed message with a variable length header in Cesanta Mongoose version 7.10. This could lead to a heap-based buffer overflow, enabling attackers to exploit the default configuration.

The Impact of CVE-2023-2905

If successfully exploited, this vulnerability could allow malicious actors to execute arbitrary code, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data breaches, or system compromise.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-2905

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability, including its description, affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in Cesanta Mongoose version 7.10 arises from inadequate length validation of MQTT_CMD_PUBLISH parsed messages with variable length headers. While version 7.9 and prior are not vulnerable, version 7.11 addresses this issue.

Affected Systems and Versions

Cesanta Mongoose version 7.10 is confirmed to be affected by this vulnerability, while version 7.11 contains the necessary patches to mitigate the risk.

Exploitation Mechanism

By exploiting the inadequate validation of message lengths, threat actors can craft malicious MQTT_CMD_PUBLISH messages to trigger a heap-based buffer overflow in Cesanta Mongoose version 7.10.

Mitigation and Prevention

In this section, recommendations for mitigating and preventing CVE-2023-2905 are outlined to enhance the security posture of affected systems.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users of Cesanta Mongoose version 7.10 are advised to update to version 7.11 or apply the relevant patches to address this vulnerability promptly. Additionally, implementing network security measures and access controls can help reduce the attack surface.

Long-Term Security Practices

Practicing secure coding methodologies, conducting regular security assessments, and staying informed about software vulnerabilities can bolster long-term security resilience against potential threats.

Patching and Updates

Regularly monitoring for software updates and security advisories from Cesanta Mongoose is essential to stay informed about patches and fixes for known vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-2905.Deploying updates promptly can help safeguard systems from exploitation attempts.