CVE-2020-12886 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Discover the buffer over-read vulnerability in the CoAP library of Arm Mbed OS 5.15.3, potentially leading to memory access beyond buffer boundaries. Learn about impacts, affected systems, and mitigation steps.
A buffer over-read vulnerability was found in the CoAP library in Arm Mbed OS 5.15.3, potentially leading to memory access beyond the buffer's boundaries.
Understanding CVE-2020-12886
What is CVE-2020-12886?
The vulnerability exists in the CoAP parser of Arm Mbed OS 5.15.3, specifically in the function responsible for parsing received CoAP packets.
The Impact of CVE-2020-12886
The vulnerability could allow an attacker to access memory outside the intended buffer boundaries, potentially leading to information disclosure or denial of service.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-12886
Vulnerability Description
The issue arises from the lack of validation of the token length in received CoAP messages against the actual input buffer length before accessing the token.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Arm Mbed OS 5.15.3
Exploitation Mechanism
- Attackers can craft malicious CoAP packets with manipulated token lengths to trigger memory over-reads.
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply patches provided by Arm Mbed OS to address the vulnerability.
- Monitor for any unusual network activity that could indicate exploitation.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update and patch software to mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
- Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of successful attacks.
Patching and Updates
- Stay informed about security updates from Arm Mbed OS and apply them promptly to secure systems.