CVE-2017-15119 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies
Learn about the QEMU NBD server vulnerability in CVE-2017-15119, allowing denial of service attacks. Find mitigation steps and update recommendations here.
Quick Emulator (QEMU) version prior to 2.11 has a vulnerability in its Network Block Device (NBD) server, leading to a denial of service due to excessive option requests.
Understanding CVE-2017-15119
The vulnerability in QEMU's NBD server can be exploited by sending large option requests, causing the server to consume significant CPU time and become unavailable for other requests.
What is CVE-2017-15119?
The Quick Emulator (QEMU) version prior to 2.11 contains a vulnerability in its Network Block Device (NBD) server that can lead to a denial of service. This vulnerability may be exploited by a client sending excessive option requests, causing the server to spend significant CPU time reading up to 4GB per request.
The Impact of CVE-2017-15119
- CVSS Base Score: 5.8 (Medium Severity)
- Attack Vector: Network
- Attack Complexity: Low
- Privileges Required: None
- Scope: Changed
- Availability Impact: Low
- The vulnerability allows a client to disrupt the NBD server, leading to a denial of service.
Technical Details of CVE-2017-15119
QEMU's NBD server vulnerability has the following technical details:
Vulnerability Description
- The NBD server in QEMU before version 2.11 is susceptible to a denial of service issue.
- A client can exploit this by sending large option requests, causing the server to waste CPU time reading up to 4GB per request.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: QEMU
- Vendor: QEMU
- Affected Version: 2.11
Exploitation Mechanism
- An attacker can exploit the vulnerability by sending excessive option requests to the NBD server, leading to a denial of service.
Mitigation and Prevention
To address CVE-2017-15119, consider the following mitigation strategies:
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update QEMU to version 2.11 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
- Monitor network traffic for any unusual patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential denial of service attacks.
- Regularly review and update security configurations to prevent similar vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
- Apply patches provided by QEMU to address the vulnerability and enhance system security.