CVE-2017-7651 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

CVE-2017-7651, related to Eclipse Mosquitto, allows attackers to shut down the server by overwhelming RAM with large payload connections during the MQTT protocol connection phase.

Understanding CVE-2017-7651

This CVE affects Eclipse Mosquitto version 1.4.14, posing a risk of server shutdown through memory overload.

What is CVE-2017-7651?

Attackers can exploit CVE-2017-7651 to crash the Mosquitto server by flooding it with connections containing large payloads.
Authentication is not required for this attack during the MQTT protocol connection phase.

The Impact of CVE-2017-7651

The vulnerability allows for a denial-of-service attack, potentially disrupting MQTT communication services.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-7651

This section provides in-depth technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

CWE-789: Uncontrolled Memory Allocation vulnerability in Eclipse Mosquitto 1.4.14.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Eclipse Mosquitto
Vendor: The Eclipse Foundation
Affected Version: 1.4.14

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exploit the vulnerability by creating numerous connections with large payloads, causing RAM overload.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect systems from CVE-2017-7651 with these security measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Eclipse Mosquitto to a patched version.
Implement network-level protections to limit the number of connections.
Monitor server resources for unusual activity.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to address known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments to identify and mitigate potential risks.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by Eclipse Foundation to address the vulnerability.