CVE-2017-10981 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability identified as FR-GV-204 in FreeRADIUS versions 2.x prior to 2.2.10 has been discovered to cause a denial of service through a memory leak in the fr_dhcp_decode() function during DHCP operations.

Understanding CVE-2017-10981

This CVE entry describes a specific vulnerability in FreeRADIUS versions 2.x before 2.2.10 that can lead to a denial of service attack.

What is CVE-2017-10981?

CVE-2017-10981 is a vulnerability in FreeRADIUS that allows for a denial of service due to a memory leak in the fr_dhcp_decode() function during DHCP operations.

The Impact of CVE-2017-10981

This vulnerability can be exploited by attackers to disrupt services and potentially cause system crashes or unresponsiveness.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-10981

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue in FreeRADIUS 2.x before 2.2.10 allows for a memory leak in the fr_dhcp_decode() function, leading to a denial of service.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: FreeRADIUS
Vendor: N/A
Versions affected: 2.x before 2.2.10

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by triggering the memory leak in the fr_dhcp_decode() function during DHCP operations.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-10981 requires specific actions to mitigate the risk.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update FreeRADIUS to version 2.2.10 or newer to patch the vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity that could indicate an ongoing attack.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and firmware to ensure all known vulnerabilities are addressed promptly.
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and patches released by FreeRADIUS to address vulnerabilities like CVE-2017-10981.