CVE-2020-11104 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

An issue was discovered in USC iLab cereal through 1.3.0 where serialization of a C/C++ long double variable into a BinaryArchive or PortableBinaryArchive can lead to memory leaks, potentially exposing sensitive information.

Understanding CVE-2020-11104

This CVE involves a vulnerability in USC iLab cereal that could result in the exposure of sensitive data if the serialized archive is distributed outside a trusted environment.

What is CVE-2020-11104?

The vulnerability in USC iLab cereal through version 1.3.0 allows for the leakage of stack or heap memory when serializing a C/C++ long double variable into certain types of archives.

The Impact of CVE-2020-11104

The exploitation of this vulnerability could enable threat actors to extract sensitive information like memory layout or private keys from the leaked memory, posing a risk to data confidentiality.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-11104

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from the improper serialization of a C/C++ long double variable into specific types of archives, leading to memory leakage.

Affected Systems and Versions

USC iLab cereal through version 1.3.0

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by serializing an initialized C/C++ long double variable into a BinaryArchive or PortableBinaryArchive, allowing attackers to access leaked memory contents.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protective measures to address and prevent the CVE-2020-11104 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update USC iLab cereal to a patched version that addresses the memory leakage issue.
Avoid distributing serialized archives outside of trusted environments.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update software dependencies to mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
Implement secure coding practices to prevent memory leaks and data exposure.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely application of security patches and updates to USC iLab cereal to mitigate the risk of memory leaks and data exposure.