CVE-2019-3815 : What You Need to Know

In Red Hat Enterprise Linux, a memory leak vulnerability exists in systemd versions starting from v219-62.2. This flaw allows a local attacker to trigger a crash in systemd-journald by exploiting the function dispatch_message_real() in journald-server.c.

Understanding CVE-2019-3815

This CVE record details a memory leak vulnerability in systemd affecting specific versions.

What is CVE-2019-3815?

CVE-2019-3815 is a vulnerability in systemd versions starting from v219-62.2, allowing a local attacker to cause a crash in systemd-journald.

The Impact of CVE-2019-3815

The vulnerability can be exploited by a local attacker to trigger a crash in systemd-journald, potentially leading to a denial of service (DoS) condition.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-3815

This section provides technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw exists in the function dispatch_message_real() in journald-server.c, leading to a memory leak due to improper deallocation of memory.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: systemd
Vendor: The systemd Project
Affected Versions: v219-62.2 and newer

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: Low
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None
Impact: Low
CWE-401: Improper Release of Memory Before Removing Last Reference

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect systems from CVE-2019-3815 by following these mitigation strategies.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the security update provided by Red Hat to address the vulnerability.
Monitor system logs for any unusual activities that could indicate exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Implement least privilege access controls to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Refer to the Red Hat security advisories RHSA-2019:0201 and RHBA-2019:0327 for patching instructions and updates.