CVE-2019-19930 : What You Need to Know

A signedness error in the MmsValue_newOctetString function in libIEC61850 1.4.0 can lead to excessive memory allocation.

Understanding CVE-2019-19930

This CVE involves a vulnerability in libIEC61850 1.4.0 that can result in memory allocation issues.

What is CVE-2019-19930?

In libIEC61850 1.4.0, the MmsValue_newOctetString function in mms/iso_mms/common/mms_value.c contains an integer signedness error that may trigger excessive memory allocation when exploited.

The Impact of CVE-2019-19930

The vulnerability could potentially allow attackers to cause a denial of service condition by consuming excessive memory resources.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-19930

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from a signedness error in the MmsValue_newOctetString function, leading to potential memory allocation problems.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Version: libIEC61850 1.4.0
Other versions may also be impacted if they utilize the vulnerable function.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by triggering the signedness error in the MmsValue_newOctetString function, causing excessive memory allocation.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-19930 requires immediate actions and long-term security measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Monitor for any unusual memory consumption on systems running libIEC61850 1.4.0.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch the libIEC61850 library to address known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and code reviews to identify and mitigate similar issues.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by the vendor to fix the signedness error and prevent memory allocation issues.