CVE-2019-15134 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A memory leak vulnerability in the TCP implementation within the RIOT operating system can lead to network disruption.

Understanding CVE-2019-15134

This CVE identifies a memory leak issue in the TCP implementation of the RIOT operating system, potentially causing network thread disruption.

What is CVE-2019-15134?

The vulnerability allows attackers to exhaust network packet memory, disrupting network threads. It originates from the '_receive' function in 'sys/net/gnrc/transport_layer/tcp/gnrc_tcp_eventloop.c'.

The Impact of CVE-2019-15134

The vulnerability can result in a complete disruption of network threads due to memory exhaustion caused by malicious actors.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-15134

The technical aspects of the CVE provide insight into the vulnerability's description, affected systems, and exploitation mechanisms.

Vulnerability Description

A memory leak in the TCP implementation of RIOT OS
Attackers can consume all available memory for network packets
Disruption of network threads

Affected Systems and Versions

RIOT OS through version 2019.07

Exploitation Mechanism

Triggered when an ACK is received before a SYN

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-15134 involves immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches or updates provided by RIOT OS
Monitor network traffic for unusual patterns

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update RIOT OS to the latest version
Implement network segmentation to contain potential attacks
Conduct regular security audits and assessments

Patching and Updates

RIOT OS has released patches addressing the memory leak vulnerability