CVE-2020-15710 : What You Need to Know

CVE-2020-15710, a vulnerability in PulseAudio, could allow a local attacker to leak memory or crash the program due to a potential double-free issue in the Bluez 5 module.

Understanding CVE-2020-15710

This CVE entry details a vulnerability in PulseAudio that could be exploited by a local attacker to cause a denial of service or potentially execute arbitrary code.

What is CVE-2020-15710?

The vulnerability in PulseAudio could lead to a double-free condition in the Bluez 5 module, enabling a local attacker to exploit it for memory leakage or program crashes.

The Impact of CVE-2020-15710

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as MEDIUM with a CVSS base score of 5.3. The attack complexity is high, and the availability impact is significant.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-15710

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The modargs variable in src/modules/bluetooth/module-bluez5-device.c may be freed twice in the fail condition, leading to a potential double-free issue.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: PulseAudio
Vendor: Canonical
Versions Affected: PulseAudio version 1:8.0 with a version less than 1:8.0-0ubuntu3.14

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited locally, requiring low privileges and no user interaction.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2020-15710, follow these mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the provided patch (1:8.0-0ubuntu3.14) to fix the vulnerability.
Monitor vendor advisories for any additional updates or security recommendations.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update PulseAudio and other software to the latest versions.
Implement least privilege access controls to limit the impact of potential vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by Canonical for PulseAudio.