CVE-2019-3821 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

CVE-2019-3821, a vulnerability in the civetweb frontend when handling requests for the ceph RGW server with SSL enabled, can lead to a denial of service attack. Learn about its impact, technical details, and mitigation steps.

Understanding CVE-2019-3821

What is CVE-2019-3821?

The vulnerability in the civetweb frontend allows unauthenticated attackers to overwhelm the ceph RADOS gateway, causing a remote denial of service by exhausting file descriptors.

The Impact of CVE-2019-3821

This vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 7.5 (High), with a significant impact on availability, allowing attackers to disrupt services without authentication.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-3821

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in handling requests for the ceph RGW server with SSL enabled allows attackers to establish numerous connections, overwhelming the ceph-radosgw service.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Ceph
Vendor: [UNKNOWN]
Versions: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exploit the vulnerability by sending requests to the ceph RGW server with SSL enabled, leading to a flood of connections that exhaust file descriptors.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable SSL on the ceph RGW server if not required
Implement network-level protections to limit excessive connections

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and analyze network traffic for unusual patterns
Keep systems and software updated to patch known vulnerabilities
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify weaknesses

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by the vendor to address the vulnerability and enhance system security.