CVE-2018-19417 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

A vulnerability has been identified in Contiki-NG's MQTT server, affecting versions prior to 4.2. The issue allows for potential remote code execution through a stack-smashing attack.

Understanding CVE-2018-19417

This CVE involves a critical vulnerability in Contiki-NG's MQTT server that could be exploited for remote code execution.

What is CVE-2018-19417?

The vulnerability in Contiki-NG's MQTT server arises from a flaw in the function parse_publish_vhdr(), which is responsible for handling MQTT PUBLISH messages with a variable length header. The issue stems from the misuse of memcpy to input data into a fixed-size buffer without proper length validation.

The Impact of CVE-2018-19417

The vulnerability could potentially allow an attacker to execute remote code by exploiting a stack-smashing attack, leading to the overwriting of the function's return address. Notably, Contiki-NG does not differentiate the MQTT server from other servers and OS modules, granting unrestricted access to all memory regions.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-19417

This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Contiki-NG's MQTT server stems from the improper use of memcpy in the function parse_publish_vhdr(), enabling a stack-smashing attack for potential remote code execution.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected versions: Prior to 4.2
Systems: Contiki-NG's MQTT server

Exploitation Mechanism

The issue allows attackers to exploit a stack-smashing attack, overwriting the function's return address and potentially executing remote code.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-19417 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Contiki-NG to version 4.2 or above to mitigate the vulnerability.
Implement network segmentation to limit access to critical systems.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit code for vulnerabilities.
Educate developers on secure coding practices to prevent similar issues.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by Contiki-NG promptly to address the vulnerability.