CVE-2020-10739 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Istio 1.4.x before 1.4.9 and Istio 1.5.x before 1.5.4 are vulnerable to a Denial of Service attack due to a Null Pointer Exception triggered by specially crafted packets.

Understanding CVE-2020-10739

This CVE affects Istio versions 1.4.x and 1.5.x, potentially leading to a Denial of Service attack when telemetry v2 is enabled.

What is CVE-2020-10739?

CVE-2020-10739 is a vulnerability in Istio versions 1.4.x and 1.5.x that allows attackers to exploit a Null Pointer Exception by sending crafted packets, resulting in a Denial of Service.

The Impact of CVE-2020-10739

CVSS Base Score: 7.5 (High)
Attack Vector: Network
Attack Complexity: Low
Availability Impact: High
No impact on Confidentiality or Integrity
No privileges required

Technical Details of CVE-2020-10739

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Istio versions 1.4.x and 1.5.x allows attackers to trigger a Null Pointer Exception, leading to a Denial of Service when telemetry v2 is enabled.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Systems: Istio 1.4.x and 1.5.x
Vulnerable Versions:
Istio 1.4.x: >= 1.4.0, < 1.4.9
Istio 1.5.x: >= 1.5.0, < 1.5.4

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted packets to the ingress gateway or proxy sidecar, triggering a Denial of Service.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2020-10739 with the following steps.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Istio to versions 1.4.9 or 1.5.4 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Disable telemetry v2 if not required for your environment.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and apply security patches to prevent future vulnerabilities.
Conduct security audits and assessments to identify and address potential risks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates from Istio and apply patches promptly to secure your systems.