CVE-2019-18903 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability known as Use After Free has been discovered in the wicked component of several operating systems, including SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15, openSUSE Leap 15.1, and openSUSE Factory. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to potentially execute code or cause a Denial of Service (DoS) attack. The specific affected versions are as follows: SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 with wicked versions prior to 0.6.60-2.18.1, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 with wicked versions prior to 0.6.60-28.26.1, openSUSE Leap 15.1 with wicked versions prior to 0.6.60-lp151.2.9.1, and openSUSE Factory with wicked versions prior to 0.6.62.

Understanding CVE-2019-18903

This CVE identifies a Use After Free vulnerability in the wicked component of various Linux operating systems.

What is CVE-2019-18903?

The CVE-2019-18903 vulnerability, also known as Use After Free, allows remote attackers to exploit the wicked component in specific versions of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server and openSUSE, potentially leading to code execution or a DoS attack.

The Impact of CVE-2019-18903

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as HIGH with a CVSS base score of 7.5. The key impacts include:

Attack Complexity: High
Attack Vector: Adjacent Network
Availability Impact: High
Confidentiality Impact: High
Integrity Impact: High
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Scope: Unchanged

Technical Details of CVE-2019-18903

This section provides detailed technical information about the CVE-2019-18903 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The Use After Free vulnerability in the wicked component of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15, openSUSE Leap 15.1, and openSUSE Factory allows attackers to exploit the system by causing a DoS attack or potentially executing malicious code.

Affected Systems and Versions

The following systems and versions are affected by CVE-2019-18903:

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 with wicked versions less than 0.6.60-2.18.1
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 with wicked versions less than 0.6.60-28.26.1
openSUSE Leap 15.1 with wicked versions less than 0.6.60-lp151.2.9.1
openSUSE Factory with wicked versions less than 0.6.62

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited remotely by attackers to trigger a Use After Free condition in the wicked component, potentially leading to a DoS attack or code execution.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2019-18903, the following steps are recommended:

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the latest security patches provided by the respective vendors.
Monitor security advisories for updates and apply them promptly.
Implement network security measures to prevent remote exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security assessments and audits to identify vulnerabilities.
Educate users and administrators about safe computing practices.
Implement intrusion detection systems to detect and respond to potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Regularly update the wicked component on affected systems to versions that address the Use After Free vulnerability.