CVE-2020-13817 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

Ntpd in ntp before 4.2.8p14 and 4.3.x before 4.3.100 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service by predicting transmit timestamps for use in spoofed packets.

Understanding CVE-2020-13817

This CVE involves a vulnerability in ntpd that can lead to a denial of service attack.

What is CVE-2020-13817?

The vulnerability in ntpd allows remote attackers to disrupt services by manipulating transmit timestamps in spoofed packets, affecting systems relying on unauthenticated IPv4 time sources.

The Impact of CVE-2020-13817

CVSS Base Score: 5.9 (Medium)
Attack Vector: Network
Attack Complexity: High
Availability Impact: High
No impact on Confidentiality or Integrity
No privileges required
No user interaction needed

Technical Details of CVE-2020-13817

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

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in ntpd allows attackers to disrupt services by manipulating transmit timestamps in spoofed packets.

Affected Systems and Versions

ntp versions before 4.2.8p14 and 4.3.x before 4.3.100

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers predict transmit timestamps for use in spoofed packets

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-13817 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update ntp to version 4.2.8p14 or 4.3.100
Implement network segmentation to limit exposure
Monitor and analyze network traffic for suspicious activities

Long-Term Security Practices

Use authenticated time sources to prevent timestamp manipulation
Regularly update and patch ntp software
Conduct security assessments and audits to identify vulnerabilities

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by ntp to address the vulnerability