CVE-2019-14834 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Researchers have discovered a flaw in dnsmasq prior to version 2.81 that could be exploited by remote attackers to initiate a denial-of-service attack by manipulating DHCP response creation, resulting in excessive memory consumption.

Understanding CVE-2019-14834

This CVE involves a vulnerability in dnsmasq that could lead to a denial-of-service attack.

What is CVE-2019-14834?

CVE-2019-14834 is a vulnerability in dnsmasq versions before 2.81 that allows remote attackers to trigger a denial-of-service attack by manipulating DHCP responses.

The Impact of CVE-2019-14834

CVSS Base Score: 3.7 (Low)
Attack Vector: Network
Attack Complexity: High
Availability Impact: Low
CWE ID: CWE-770

Technical Details of CVE-2019-14834

This section provides technical details about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in dnsmasq prior to version 2.81 allows remote attackers to exploit DHCP response creation, leading to a denial-of-service attack due to excessive memory consumption.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: dnsmasq
Vendor: The Dnsmasq Project
Affected Versions: Before 2.81

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited remotely by manipulating DHCP responses, causing a denial-of-service attack through memory exhaustion.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2019-14834 with the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update dnsmasq to version 2.81 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious DHCP activities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and firmware to patch known vulnerabilities.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from dnsmasq and apply patches promptly to secure your systems.