CVE-2017-2893 : Security Advisory and Response

Cesanta Mongoose 6.8 contains a vulnerability in its MQTT packet parsing feature, leading to a server crash and denial of service due to a NULL pointer dereference when handling an MQTT SUBSCRIBE packet.

Understanding CVE-2017-2893

This CVE involves a vulnerability in Cesanta Mongoose 6.8 that can be exploited to cause a denial of service attack.

What is CVE-2017-2893?

The vulnerability is in the MQTT packet parsing feature of Cesanta Mongoose 6.8.
It allows an attacker to crash the server by sending a carefully crafted MQTT packet.

The Impact of CVE-2017-2893

CVSS Score: 7.5 (High)
Attack Vector: Network
Availability Impact: High
Attack Complexity: Low
This vulnerability can lead to a server crash and denial of service.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-2893

Cesanta Mongoose 6.8 vulnerability details.

Vulnerability Description

An exploitable NULL pointer dereference vulnerability exists in the MQTT packet parsing functionality.
Triggered by handling an MQTT SUBSCRIBE packet, causing a server crash.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: Mongoose
Vendor: Cesanta
Affected Version: 6.8

Exploitation Mechanism

Attacker must send a carefully constructed MQTT packet via the network to exploit the vulnerability.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-2893.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-supplied patches or updates promptly.
Implement network-level controls to filter out malicious MQTT packets.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to address known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and mitigate weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from vendors.
Monitor CVE databases for any new information or patches.