CVE-2020-14401 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

An issue was discovered in LibVNCServer before 0.9.13. libvncserver/scale.c has a pixel_value integer overflow.

Understanding CVE-2020-14401

What is CVE-2020-14401?

CVE-2020-14401 is a vulnerability found in LibVNCServer before version 0.9.13, specifically in the scale.c file, leading to a pixel_value integer overflow.

The Impact of CVE-2020-14401

This vulnerability could potentially allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service by triggering the overflow.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-14401

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from an integer overflow in the pixel_value calculation within the scale.c file of LibVNCServer.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: N/A
Vendor: N/A
Versions affected: All versions before 0.9.13

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted requests to the affected server, triggering the integer overflow.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update LibVNCServer to version 0.9.13 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity that could indicate exploitation attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to ensure known vulnerabilities are addressed promptly.
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all systems running LibVNCServer are regularly updated with the latest security patches and versions.