CVE-2019-6681 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2019-6681, a memory leak vulnerability in Multicast Forwarding Cache (MFC) handling on F5 BIG-IP versions 15.0.0-15.0.1.1, 14.1.0-14.1.2, 14.0.0-14.0.1, 13.1.0-13.1.3.1, and 12.1.0-12.1.5, potentially leading to a DoS attack. Find mitigation steps and patches.
A memory leak vulnerability in Multicast Forwarding Cache (MFC) handling on F5 BIG-IP versions 15.0.0-15.0.1.1, 14.1.0-14.1.2, 14.0.0-14.0.1, 13.1.0-13.1.3.1, and 12.1.0-12.1.5 can lead to a Denial of Service (DoS) attack.
Understanding CVE-2019-6681
This CVE involves a memory leak issue in the Multicast Forwarding Cache (MFC) handling on various versions of F5 BIG-IP.
What is CVE-2019-6681?
The vulnerability in tmrouted on F5 BIG-IP versions 15.0.0-15.0.1.1, 14.1.0-14.1.2, 14.0.0-14.0.1, 13.1.0-13.1.3.1, and 12.1.0-12.1.5 allows attackers to exploit a memory leak in MFC handling, potentially leading to a DoS attack.
The Impact of CVE-2019-6681
Exploitation of this vulnerability could result in a DoS condition, causing service disruption and potentially affecting the availability of the affected systems.
Technical Details of CVE-2019-6681
This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the CVE.
Vulnerability Description
A memory leak in the Multicast Forwarding Cache (MFC) handling in tmrouted on F5 BIG-IP versions 15.0.0-15.0.1.1, 14.1.0-14.1.2, 14.0.0-14.0.1, 13.1.0-13.1.3.1, and 12.1.0-12.1.5.
Affected Systems and Versions
- BIG-IP version 15.0.0-15.0.1.1
- BIG-IP version 14.1.0-14.1.2
- BIG-IP version 14.0.0-14.0.1
- BIG-IP version 13.1.0-13.1.3.1
- BIG-IP version 12.1.0-12.1.5
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit the memory leak in MFC handling to trigger a DoS attack, potentially disrupting services on the affected systems.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2019-6681 requires immediate actions and long-term security measures.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply vendor-supplied patches or updates to mitigate the vulnerability.
- Monitor network traffic for any signs of exploitation.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update and patch systems to address known vulnerabilities.
- Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the impact of potential attacks.
Patching and Updates
- F5 has released patches for the affected versions. Ensure timely application of these patches to secure the systems against CVE-2019-6681.