CVE-2020-11937 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

In whoopsie, parse_report() from whoopsie.c allows a local attacker to cause a denial of service via a crafted file. The DoS is caused by resource exhaustion due to a memory leak. This vulnerability affects versions 0.2.52, 0.2.62, and 0.2.69 of the whoopsie package by Canonical.

Understanding CVE-2020-11937

This CVE entry describes a resource exhaustion vulnerability in the whoopsie package, affecting specific versions and allowing a local attacker to trigger a denial of service attack.

What is CVE-2020-11937?

CVE-2020-11937 is a vulnerability in the whoopsie package that enables a local attacker to exploit a memory leak in the parse_report() function, leading to resource exhaustion and a denial of service condition.

The Impact of CVE-2020-11937

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 5.5, indicating a medium severity issue. It requires low privileges and user interaction, with a high impact on availability but no impact on confidentiality or integrity.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-11937

This section provides more in-depth technical details about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in whoopsie is due to a memory leak in the parse_report() function, allowing a local attacker to trigger a denial of service attack by exhausting system resources.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: whoopsie
Vendor: Canonical
Affected Versions: 0.2.52, 0.2.62, 0.2.69

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by a local attacker who crafts a specific file to trigger the parse_report() function, leading to resource exhaustion and a denial of service condition.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2020-11937, users and administrators should take immediate and long-term security measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the whoopsie package to the fixed versions: 0.2.52.5ubuntu0.5, 0.2.62ubuntu0.5, 0.2.69ubuntu0.1
Monitor system resources for any signs of resource exhaustion

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software packages to patch known vulnerabilities
Implement proper file input validation to prevent crafted files from triggering vulnerabilities

Patching and Updates

Apply the patches provided by Canonical for the whoopsie package to mitigate the resource exhaustion vulnerability.