CVE-2019-5605 : What You Need to Know

A security vulnerability in FreeBSD versions before 11.3-RELEASE-p1 and 11.2-RELEASE-p12 could allow attackers to gain unauthorized elevated privileges by exposing kernel memory to userland processes.

Understanding CVE-2019-5605

This CVE involves a potential security risk due to inadequate memory initialization in the freebsd32_ioctl interface, leading to kernel memory exposure.

What is CVE-2019-5605?

Before specific FreeBSD versions, insufficient memory initialization in the freebsd32_ioctl interface may expose kernel memory to userland processes, enabling attackers to potentially elevate privileges.

The Impact of CVE-2019-5605

Exploiting this vulnerability could allow attackers to gain unauthorized elevated privileges by accessing kernel memory through userland processes.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-5605

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue stems from inadequate memory initialization in the freebsd32_ioctl interface, potentially exposing kernel memory to userland processes.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: FreeBSD
Affected Versions:
FreeBSD 11.x
Before 11.3-RELEASE-p1
Before 11.2-RELEASE-p12

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by leveraging the exposed kernel memory to gain unauthorized elevated privileges.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2019-5605 with the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply relevant security patches promptly.
Monitor for any unauthorized access or unusual system behavior.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch your FreeBSD systems.
Implement strong access controls and user permissions.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security patches and updates to mitigate the risk of exploitation.