CVE-2018-0490 : What You Need to Know

A vulnerability was found in versions of Tor prior to 0.2.9.15, 0.3.1.x prior to 0.3.1.10, and 0.3.2.x before 0.3.2.10. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to trigger a denial of service attack by exploiting a subprotocol implementation.

Understanding CVE-2018-0490

This CVE involves a vulnerability in Tor versions that can lead to a denial of service attack.

What is CVE-2018-0490?

CVE-2018-0490 is a security vulnerability found in Tor versions prior to 0.2.9.15, 0.3.1.x before 0.3.1.10, and 0.3.2.x before 0.3.2.10. It resides in the directory-authority protocol-list subprotocol implementation.

The Impact of CVE-2018-0490

The vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute a denial of service attack, causing a crash in the directory-authority by providing a relay descriptor with incorrect formatting.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-0490

This section provides more technical details about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue in Tor versions allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a misformatted relay descriptor that is mishandled during voting.

Affected Systems and Versions

Tor versions prior to 0.2.9.15
Tor 0.3.1.x before 0.3.1.10
Tor 0.3.2.x before 0.3.2.10

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exploit the directory-authority protocol-list subprotocol implementation.
By providing a relay descriptor with incorrect formatting, attackers trigger a denial of service attack.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-0490 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Tor to versions 0.2.9.15, 0.3.1.10, or 0.3.2.10 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Tor and other software to the latest versions.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by Tor to address the vulnerability.