CVE-2019-3564 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Facebook Thrift servers were vulnerable to a denial of service issue due to errors when processing messages with unknown field types.

Understanding CVE-2019-3564

This CVE involves a vulnerability in Facebook Thrift servers that could be exploited by malicious clients to cause denial of service.

What is CVE-2019-3564?

Facebook Thrift servers could encounter errors when handling messages containing containers with unknown field types.
Malicious clients could exploit this vulnerability by sending short messages that would take a significant amount of time for the server to parse.
The issue affects Facebook Thrift versions released before v2019.03.04.00.

The Impact of CVE-2019-3564

Exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to a denial of service situation on the affected servers.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-3564

This section provides more technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

Facebook Thrift servers were prone to errors when receiving messages containing containers with fields of unknown types.
Malicious clients could send brief messages causing the server to spend a significant amount of time parsing them.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Facebook Thrift
Vendor: Facebook
Affected Versions: v2019.03.04.00 and versions prior to it

Exploitation Mechanism

Malicious clients exploit the vulnerability by sending messages with containers of fields of unknown types.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-3564 is crucial to prevent denial of service attacks.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Facebook Thrift servers to version v2019.03.04.00 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor server logs for any unusual parsing delays that could indicate exploitation attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch Facebook Thrift servers to address any newly discovered vulnerabilities.
Implement network-level protections to detect and block malicious traffic targeting the Thrift servers.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from Facebook and promptly apply patches to secure the servers.