CVE-2020-12884 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies
Learn about CVE-2020-12884, a buffer over-read vulnerability in Arm Mbed OS 5.15.3, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive data. Find mitigation steps and long-term security practices.
A buffer over-read vulnerability was found in the CoAP library in Arm Mbed OS 5.15.3, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information.
Understanding CVE-2020-12884
This CVE involves a vulnerability in the CoAP library in Arm Mbed OS 5.15.3 that could allow an attacker to access memory outside the intended boundary of a packet buffer.
What is CVE-2020-12884?
The vulnerability arises from improper handling of CoAP options in received packets, leading to a buffer over-read issue.
The Impact of CVE-2020-12884
The vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker to access sensitive information or execute arbitrary code by reading memory beyond the intended buffer.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-12884
The technical aspects of the vulnerability provide insight into its nature and potential risks.
Vulnerability Description
- The issue lies in the CoAP parser function responsible for parsing received CoAP packets.
- Improper memory access occurs when processing CoAP options in a packet.
- Lack of proper boundary checks allows access to memory areas beyond the intended buffer.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Arm Mbed OS 5.15.3 is specifically impacted by this vulnerability.
Exploitation Mechanism
- Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious CoAP packets to trigger the buffer over-read.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2020-12884 requires immediate actions and long-term security measures.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply patches or updates provided by Arm Mbed OS to address the vulnerability.
- Monitor network traffic for any signs of exploitation attempts.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update and patch software to prevent known vulnerabilities.
- Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.
- Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address weaknesses.
Patching and Updates
- Arm Mbed OS may release patches or updates to fix the buffer over-read vulnerability.