CVE-2019-5599 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A vulnerability exists in FreeBSD 12.0-STABLE versions earlier than r349197 and 12.0-RELEASE versions prior to 12.0-RELEASE-p6, affecting the non-default RACK TCP stack, potentially leading to denial of service attacks.

Understanding CVE-2019-5599

This CVE identifies a flaw in FreeBSD versions that could be exploited by attackers to cause resource depletion and denial of service through the manipulation of interconnected lists.

What is CVE-2019-5599?

In FreeBSD 12.0-STABLE before r349197 and 12.0-RELEASE before 12.0-RELEASE-p6, a bug in the non-default RACK TCP stack allows attackers to trigger unbounded growth in linked lists, leading to resource exhaustion and denial of service.

The Impact of CVE-2019-5599

Exploiting this vulnerability could enable an attacker to impose exhaustive list traversal on each processed packet, causing resource depletion and denial of service by triggering unlimited growth in interconnected lists.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-5599

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in FreeBSD versions allows attackers to cause unbounded growth in linked lists, resulting in resource exhaustion and denial of service by imposing an exhaustive list traversal on each processed packet.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: FreeBSD
Versions Affected: FreeBSD 12.0 before 12.0-RELEASE-p6

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this flaw by manipulating the non-default RACK TCP stack in FreeBSD versions to trigger unbounded growth in interconnected lists, leading to resource exhaustion and denial of service.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-5599 requires immediate action and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the recommended patches provided by FreeBSD to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any signs of exploitation.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch FreeBSD systems to address known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security audits and assessments to identify and remediate potential weaknesses.
Educate system administrators and users on best security practices to prevent exploitation.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that FreeBSD systems are updated to at least version 12.0-RELEASE-p6 to address the vulnerability.
Stay informed about security advisories and updates from FreeBSD to protect systems from potential threats.