CVE-2019-10013 : Security Advisory and Response

axTLS version 2.1.5 contains a vulnerability in the asn1_signature function that can be exploited by remote attackers to disrupt services by consuming excessive memory and CPU resources.

Understanding CVE-2019-10013

This CVE involves a denial-of-service vulnerability in the axTLS library due to a buffer overflow in the asn1_signature function.

What is CVE-2019-10013?

The vulnerability in the asn1_signature function allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service by sending a crafted certificate in the TLS certificate handshake message.

The Impact of CVE-2019-10013

Remote attackers can disrupt services by consuming excessive memory and CPU resources.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-10013

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from a lack of proper bounds checking on the result of the get_asn1_length() function, enabling the exploitation of the vulnerability.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Version: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exploit the vulnerability by sending a carefully crafted certificate within the TLS certificate handshake message.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-10013 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches or updates provided by the vendor.
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 software to address known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and mitigate risks.
Educate users and administrators about safe computing practices.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and updates from the axTLS library.
Apply patches promptly to mitigate the risk of exploitation.