CVE-2018-12546 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Eclipse Mosquitto versions 1.0 to 1.5.5 may allow clients to trigger actions on revoked topics due to improper access control.

Understanding CVE-2018-12546

Clients using affected versions of Eclipse Mosquitto might face security risks related to retained messages.

What is CVE-2018-12546?

CVE-2018-12546 refers to a vulnerability in Eclipse Mosquitto versions 1.0 to 1.5.5, potentially enabling unauthorized actions on restricted topics.

The Impact of CVE-2018-12546

The vulnerability could allow clients to continue receiving retained messages on topics even after access revocation, leading to unauthorized actions.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-12546

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

Vulnerability Description

Eclipse Mosquitto versions 1.0 to 1.5.5 retain messages on topics, allowing clients to trigger actions even after losing access to the topic.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Eclipse Mosquitto
Vendor: The Eclipse Foundation
Versions: 1.0 to 1.5.5 (inclusive)

Exploitation Mechanism

The issue arises when a client publishes a retained message to a topic, and subsequent subscribers can still receive the message post-access revocation.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2018-12546 with the following measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Eclipse Mosquitto to a patched version.
Monitor topic access and message delivery closely.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement proper access controls and permissions.
Regularly review and update security configurations.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches promptly to mitigate the vulnerability in Eclipse Mosquitto.