CVE-2020-12831 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

An issue was discovered in FRRouting FRR (aka Free Range Routing) through 7.3.1, potentially leading to an information leak due to incorrect file permissions.

Understanding CVE-2020-12831

This CVE involves a vulnerability in FRRouting that could result in an information leak.

What is CVE-2020-12831?

CVE-2020-12831 is a security flaw in FRRouting that occurs when the split-config feature is used, resulting in the creation of an empty config file with world-readable default permissions. This misconfiguration could allow unauthorized access to sensitive information.

The Impact of CVE-2020-12831

The vulnerability could lead to an information leak via specific FRRouting files, potentially exposing sensitive data to unauthorized users.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-12831

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from the init script creating an empty config file with incorrect permissions, making it accessible to unauthorized users.

Affected Systems and Versions

FRRouting FRR versions up to 7.3.1 are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Unauthorized users can exploit this vulnerability by accessing the world-readable config file created by the split-config feature.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to address and prevent the exploitation of this vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Review and adjust file permissions to restrict access to sensitive configuration files.
Regularly monitor file permissions to ensure they are correctly set.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement a least privilege access control policy to limit access to critical files.
Conduct regular security audits to identify and rectify misconfigurations.

Patching and Updates

Update FRRouting to version 7.3.2 or later to mitigate this vulnerability and ensure proper file permission settings.