CVE-2017-10986 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability referred to as FR-GV-303 has been identified in FreeRADIUS version 3.x prior to 3.0.15. This vulnerability, known as "DHCP - Infinite read in dhcp_attr2vp()", can potentially lead to a denial of service.

Understanding CVE-2017-10986

This CVE-2017-10986 vulnerability affects FreeRADIUS versions prior to 3.0.15 and is related to a specific issue known as "DHCP - Infinite read in dhcp_attr2vp()".

What is CVE-2017-10986?

CVE-2017-10986 is a vulnerability in FreeRADIUS 3.x versions before 3.0.15 that can be exploited to cause a denial of service.

The Impact of CVE-2017-10986

The vulnerability can lead to a denial of service, potentially disrupting the normal operation of FreeRADIUS servers.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-10986

This section provides more technical insights into the CVE-2017-10986 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue in FreeRADIUS 3.x before 3.0.15 allows for an "Infinite read in dhcp_attr2vp()" in DHCP, leading to the denial of service.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: FreeRADIUS
Affected Versions: 3.x versions before 3.0.15

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by sending specially crafted DHCP packets to the FreeRADIUS server, triggering the infinite read condition.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2017-10986, consider the following mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update FreeRADIUS to version 3.0.15 or later to eliminate the vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious DHCP packets.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch FreeRADIUS installations to protect against known vulnerabilities.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential denial of service attacks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from FreeRADIUS and apply patches promptly to secure the system.