CVE-2019-12995 : What You Need to Know

In versions prior to 1.2.2, there is a mishandling of specific access tokens in Istio, leading to an error message in Envoy. This issue is related to a segmentation fault in the jwt_authenticator.cc module.

Understanding CVE-2019-12995

In this CVE, Istio before version 1.2.2 mishandles certain access tokens, resulting in errors in Envoy.

What is CVE-2019-12995?

This CVE involves a vulnerability in Istio where specific access tokens are mishandled, causing errors in Envoy and leading to a segmentation fault in the jwt_authenticator.cc module.

The Impact of CVE-2019-12995

The vulnerability can result in Envoy encountering an error message stating "Epoch 0 terminated with an error" due to the mishandling of access tokens in Istio.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-12995

Istio before version 1.2.2 is affected by this vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from the mishandling of specific access tokens, causing errors in Envoy and a segmentation fault in the jwt_authenticator.cc module.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Istio
Versions Affected: Prior to 1.2.2

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by using specific access tokens, triggering errors in Envoy and leading to a segmentation fault.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2019-12995, follow these steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Istio to version 1.2.2 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor for any unusual errors or messages in Envoy that could indicate exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch Istio and its components to prevent similar vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by Istio to fix the vulnerability and enhance system security.