CVE-2020-10289 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

CVE-2020-10289, also known as RVD#2401, involves the use of unsafe yaml load in ROS Melodic Morenia and prior distros, potentially allowing the instantiation of arbitrary objects. This vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker to execute arbitrary Python code through the ROS Master.

Understanding CVE-2020-10289

This CVE highlights a security flaw in the ROS core package of actionlib, which can be leveraged by an attacker with local or remote access to execute malicious Python code.

What is CVE-2020-10289?

The vulnerability stems from unsafe parsing of YAML values during the processing of action messages, enabling the creation of Python objects. The issue lies in actionlib/tools/library.py at line 132.

The Impact of CVE-2020-10289

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as high, with a CVSS base score of 8. It poses a significant risk to confidentiality, integrity, and availability, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-10289

This section delves into the technical aspects of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw allows for the instantiation of arbitrary objects through unsafe YAML parsing, enabling the execution of arbitrary Python code.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: ROS
Vendor: Open Robotics
Versions: ROS Melodic Morenia and prior distros

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability occurs during the processing of action messages, where unsafe YAML values are parsed, leading to the creation of Python objects.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-10289 requires immediate action and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Consider using yaml.safe_load() instead of unsafe yaml load to mitigate the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update ROS packages to ensure the latest security patches are applied.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and apply patches promptly to address known vulnerabilities.