CVE-2020-15114 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

In etcd before versions 3.3.23 and 3.4.10, a denial of service vulnerability exists due to a flaw in the etcd gateway. Attackers can cause a denial of service by including the gateway address as an endpoint, leading to a loop that exhausts available file descriptors.

Understanding CVE-2020-15114

This CVE involves a denial of service vulnerability in etcd versions prior to 3.3.23 and 3.4.10.

What is CVE-2020-15114?

CVE-2020-15114 is a vulnerability in etcd that allows attackers to trigger a denial of service by manipulating the gateway address, causing a loop that consumes file descriptors.

The Impact of CVE-2020-15114

CVSS Base Score: 7.7 (High)
Attack Vector: Network
Attack Complexity: Low
Availability Impact: High
Scope: Changed
Privileges Required: Low
Vector String: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H

Technical Details of CVE-2020-15114

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in etcd versions prior to 3.3.23 and 3.4.10 allows attackers to exploit the gateway address, leading to a denial of service by exhausting file descriptors.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: etcd
Vendor: etcd-io
Vulnerable Versions:
< 3.3.23
< 3.4.10

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by manipulating the gateway address, causing a loop that consumes file descriptors and leads to a denial of service.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-15114 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update etcd to versions 3.3.23 or 3.4.10 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor system resources for unusual consumption that may indicate a denial of service attack.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and apply security patches to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by etcd to address the denial of service vulnerability.