CVE-2018-6794 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Suricata before version 4.0.4 is susceptible to an HTTP detection bypass vulnerability, impacting the detect.c and stream-tcp.c files.

Understanding CVE-2018-6794

This CVE involves a vulnerability in Suricata versions prior to 4.0.4 that allows HTTP detection to be bypassed.

What is CVE-2018-6794?

The vulnerability enables an attacker to manipulate a regular TCP flow, sending data before the 3-way handshake is complete, which can be accepted by web clients but ignored by Suricata IDS signatures.

The Impact of CVE-2018-6794

Attackers can bypass HTTP detection in Suricata versions prior to 4.0.4
Web clients may accept data sent by attackers before the TCP handshake is complete
Suricata IDS signatures related to HTTP protocol and TCP stream content may be affected

Technical Details of CVE-2018-6794

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Suricata versions prior to 4.0.4 allows HTTP detection to be bypassed, affecting the detect.c and stream-tcp.c files.

Affected Systems and Versions

Suricata versions prior to 4.0.4

Exploitation Mechanism

Attacker manipulates a regular TCP flow
Sends data before the 3-way handshake is complete
Web clients accept data, but Suricata IDS signatures ignore it

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from the CVE-2018-6794 vulnerability with these steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Suricata to version 4.0.4 or later
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch Suricata and other security software
Conduct security training for employees to recognize and report suspicious activities

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by Suricata promptly to address security vulnerabilities