CVE-2020-12714 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

An issue was discovered in CipherMail Community Gateway Virtual Appliances and Professional/Enterprise Gateway Virtual Appliances versions 1.0.1 through 4.7.1-0 and CipherMail Webmail Messenger Virtual Appliances 1.1.1 through 3.1.1-0. A Diffie-Hellman parameter of insufficient size could allow man-in-the-middle compromise of communications between CipherMail products and external SMTP clients.

Understanding CVE-2020-12714

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in CipherMail products that could lead to man-in-the-middle attacks.

What is CVE-2020-12714?

The vulnerability in CipherMail products could enable attackers to compromise communications between the products and external SMTP clients by exploiting an insufficiently sized Diffie-Hellman parameter.

The Impact of CVE-2020-12714

The exploitation of this vulnerability could result in unauthorized access to sensitive information transmitted between CipherMail products and external SMTP clients, potentially leading to data breaches and interception of confidential data.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-12714

This section provides more technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from the use of a Diffie-Hellman parameter of insufficient size in CipherMail Community Gateway Virtual Appliances, Professional/Enterprise Gateway Virtual Appliances, and CipherMail Webmail Messenger Virtual Appliances.

Affected Systems and Versions

CipherMail Community Gateway Virtual Appliances versions 1.0.1 through 4.7.1-0
Professional/Enterprise Gateway Virtual Appliances versions 1.0.1 through 4.7.1-0
CipherMail Webmail Messenger Virtual Appliances versions 1.1.1 through 3.1.1-0

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by intercepting communications between CipherMail products and external SMTP clients due to the inadequate size of the Diffie-Hellman parameter.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from this vulnerability is crucial to maintaining security.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update CipherMail products to the latest versions that address the vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activities that could indicate exploitation of the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strong encryption protocols and regularly review cryptographic configurations.
Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by CipherMail promptly to ensure that the vulnerability is mitigated and the systems are secure.