CVE-2017-2891 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Cesanta Mongoose 6.8 HTTP Server Vulnerability

Understanding CVE-2017-2891

This CVE involves a use-after-free vulnerability in Cesanta Mongoose 6.8, potentially leading to remote code execution.

What is CVE-2017-2891?

The vulnerability in Cesanta Mongoose 6.8 allows for the reuse of a previously freed pointer through an ordinary HTTP POST request with a CGI target, enabling remote code execution.

The Impact of CVE-2017-2891

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 9.8, indicating a critical severity level with high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. It requires no special privileges for exploitation.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-2891

Cesanta Mongoose 6.8 Vulnerability

Vulnerability Description

Use-after-free vulnerability in Cesanta Mongoose 6.8 HTTP server implementation
Triggered by an ordinary HTTP POST request with a CGI target
Allows for the reuse of a freed pointer, potentially leading to remote code execution

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Mongoose
Vendor: Cesanta
Version: 6.8

Exploitation Mechanism

Attacker sends an HTTP request containing the CGI target over the network

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting Against CVE-2017-2891

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-supplied patches or updates promptly
Monitor network traffic for suspicious HTTP requests
Implement network-level controls to filter out potentially malicious requests

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to address known vulnerabilities
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and mitigate risks
Educate users and administrators on safe practices to prevent exploitation

Patching and Updates

Check vendor advisories for patches and updates
Follow best practices for secure coding and configuration to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future