CVE-2020-10101 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Zammad 3.0 through 3.2 is affected by a vulnerability where the WebSocket server crashes due to non-JSON messages sent by an attacker, leading to a service process crash.

Understanding CVE-2020-10101

This CVE describes a vulnerability in Zammad versions 3.0 through 3.2 that can be exploited by sending non-JSON messages to the WebSocket server.

What is CVE-2020-10101?

This CVE pertains to a flaw in Zammad versions 3.0 through 3.2 that allows an attacker to crash the WebSocket server by sending messages in a non-JSON format. The service process crashes due to improper message format validation.

The Impact of CVE-2020-10101

The vulnerability can be exploited by attackers to disrupt the service availability by causing the WebSocket server to crash, potentially leading to a denial of service condition.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-10101

Zammad 3.0 through 3.2 is susceptible to the following technical details:

Vulnerability Description

The WebSocket server crashes when non-JSON messages are sent by an attacker
Lack of proper message format validation and error handling

Affected Systems and Versions

Zammad versions 3.0 through 3.2

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers send messages in non-JSON format to the WebSocket server
Improper message format validation leads to parsing errors and service process crash

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2020-10101, consider the following mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-supplied patches or updates
Implement network-level protections to filter out malicious traffic

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to address known vulnerabilities
Conduct security assessments and audits to identify and remediate weaknesses

Patching and Updates

Ensure Zammad is updated to a patched version that addresses the WebSocket server vulnerability