CVE-2019-17502 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

Hydra through version 0.1.8 experiences a NULL pointer dereference issue leading to a daemon crash when handling POST requests without a Content-Length header.

Understanding CVE-2019-17502

In versions up to 0.1.8, Hydra encounters a problem causing a daemon crash due to a NULL pointer dereference when processing specific POST requests.

What is CVE-2019-17502?

The vulnerability triggers a crash in the Hydra daemon when handling POST requests lacking a Content-Length header.
Specific files like read.c, request.c, and util.c are involved in the issue.
The problem arises from the process_header_end() function calling boa_atoi(), which eventually invokes atoi() on a NULL pointer.

The Impact of CVE-2019-17502

Exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to a denial of service (DoS) condition by crashing the Hydra daemon.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-17502

Hydra vulnerability details and affected systems.

Vulnerability Description

Hydra versions up to 0.1.8 are susceptible to a NULL pointer dereference issue causing a daemon crash.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: N/A
Vendor: N/A
Versions: Up to 0.1.8

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is triggered by handling POST requests without a Content-Length header, involving read.c, request.c, and util.c files.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-17502.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-supplied patches or updates to mitigate the vulnerability.
Implement network security measures to restrict access to vulnerable services.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to address known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and audits to identify and remediate potential weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and updates from Hydra to apply patches promptly.