CVE-2018-20356 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Cesanta Mongoose Embedded Web Server Library 6.13 and earlier are vulnerable to a denial of service or remote code execution due to a use-after-free vulnerability.

Understanding CVE-2018-20356

What is CVE-2018-20356?

An invalid read of 8 bytes resulting from a use-after-free vulnerability in the mg_http_free_proto_data_cgi function call in mongoose.c can lead to a denial of service or remote code execution in Cesanta Mongoose Embedded Web Server Library 6.13 and earlier.

The Impact of CVE-2018-20356

This vulnerability can allow attackers to crash the application or execute remote code, potentially compromising the server and its data.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-20356

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from an invalid read of 8 bytes caused by a use-after-free issue in the mg_http_free_proto_data_cgi function call in mongoose.c.

Affected Systems and Versions

Cesanta Mongoose Embedded Web Server Library 6.13 and earlier

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by triggering the use-after-free condition, leading to a denial of service or potential remote code execution.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches or updates provided by the vendor to address the vulnerability.
Monitor security advisories for any new information or updates related to this CVE.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to the latest versions to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
Implement secure coding practices to prevent memory-related vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all systems running Cesanta Mongoose Embedded Web Server Library are updated with the latest patches to fix the use-after-free vulnerability.