CVE-2020-10071 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A critical vulnerability in Zephyr MQTT parsing code allows for buffer overflow and potential remote code execution.

Understanding CVE-2020-10071

This CVE involves insufficient validation of the length field in MQTT publish messages in Zephyr.

What is CVE-2020-10071?

The Zephyr MQTT parsing code lacks proper length field checking on publish messages, enabling a buffer overflow that could lead to remote code execution.

The Impact of CVE-2020-10071

CVSS Score: 9.0 (Critical)
Attack Vector: Network
Attack Complexity: High
Confidentiality Impact: High
Integrity Impact: High
Availability Impact: High
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Scope: Changed

Technical Details of CVE-2020-10071

This section provides detailed technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from inadequate validation of the length field in MQTT publish messages, leading to a buffer overflow.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: Zephyr
Vendor: Zephyrproject-rtos
Affected Version: 2.2.0 and later versions

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by crafting MQTT publish messages with manipulated length fields to trigger a buffer overflow.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2020-10071 with these mitigation strategies.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Zephyr to a patched version that includes a fix for the MQTT parsing code.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious MQTT messages.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security audits and code reviews to identify and address vulnerabilities promptly.
Educate developers on secure coding practices to prevent buffer overflow and similar issues.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from Zephyrproject-rtos and apply patches promptly to address known vulnerabilities.