CVE-2020-13988 : Security Advisory and Response

Contiki through 3.0 is affected by an Integer Overflow vulnerability in the uIP TCP/IP Stack component. This vulnerability occurs when parsing TCP MSS options of IPv4 network packets in uip_process in net/ipv4/uip.c.

Understanding CVE-2020-13988

An Integer Overflow vulnerability in Contiki through 3.0 allows attackers to exploit the uIP TCP/IP Stack component when processing TCP MSS options in IPv4 network packets.

What is CVE-2020-13988?

This CVE identifies a security flaw in Contiki through version 3.0, where an Integer Overflow vulnerability exists in the uIP TCP/IP Stack component during the parsing of TCP MSS options in IPv4 network packets.

The Impact of CVE-2020-13988

The vulnerability could be exploited by attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (DoS) condition on systems running the affected Contiki versions.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-13988

Contiki through 3.0 is susceptible to an Integer Overflow vulnerability in the uIP TCP/IP Stack component.

Vulnerability Description

The Integer Overflow occurs during the processing of TCP MSS options in IPv4 network packets within the uip_process function in net/ipv4/uip.c.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Contiki
Vendor: N/A
Versions: All versions up to and including 3.0

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious IPv4 network packets with specially designed TCP MSS options to trigger the Integer Overflow in the uIP TCP/IP Stack component.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2020-13988.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-supplied patches or updates to Contiki to address the Integer Overflow vulnerability.
Implement network-level controls to filter out potentially malicious network packets.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software components to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and remediate potential weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and updates from Contiki to apply patches promptly and protect systems from exploitation.