CVE-2018-16131 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Lightbend Akka HTTP versions 10.1.x through 10.1.4 and 10.0.x through 10.0.13 are vulnerable to a denial of service attack via a ZIP bomb.

Understanding CVE-2018-16131

In August 2018, CVE-2018-16131 was published, highlighting a vulnerability in Lightbend Akka HTTP versions that could be exploited by remote attackers.

What is CVE-2018-16131?

The decodeRequest and decodeRequestWith directives in Lightbend Akka HTTP versions 10.1.x through 10.1.4 and 10.0.x through 10.0.13 have a vulnerability that can lead to a denial of service attack. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to cause memory consumption and a crash of the daemon by utilizing a ZIP bomb.

The Impact of CVE-2018-16131

The exploitation of this vulnerability can result in a denial of service, leading to memory consumption and potentially crashing the daemon. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability remotely to disrupt the normal operation of affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-16131

Lightbend Akka HTTP versions 10.1.x through 10.1.4 and 10.0.x through 10.0.13 are susceptible to the following technical aspects:

Vulnerability Description

The decodeRequest and decodeRequestWith directives in Lightbend Akka HTTP versions allow remote attackers to trigger a denial of service attack through a ZIP bomb, causing memory consumption and potential daemon crashes.

Affected Systems and Versions

Lightbend Akka HTTP 10.1.x through 10.1.4
Lightbend Akka HTTP 10.0.x through 10.0.13

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is exploited remotely by sending a specially crafted request that contains a ZIP bomb, overwhelming the system's resources and leading to a denial of service condition.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2018-16131 and enhance system security, consider the following mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Lightbend Akka HTTP to a non-vulnerable version.
Implement network-level protections to filter out malicious requests.
Monitor system resources for unusual consumption patterns.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and apply security patches promptly.
Conduct security audits and penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and updates from Lightbend Akka HTTP.
Apply patches and updates as soon as they are available to mitigate known vulnerabilities.