CVE-2020-16117 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

In GNOME evolution-data-server before 3.35.91, a malicious server can crash the mail client with a NULL pointer dereference by sending an invalid CAPABILITY line on a connection attempt.

Understanding CVE-2020-16117

In this CVE, a vulnerability in GNOME evolution-data-server could lead to a denial of service attack.

What is CVE-2020-16117?

The vulnerability allows a malicious server to crash the mail client by sending an invalid CAPABILITY line during a connection attempt.

The Impact of CVE-2020-16117

Exploitation of this vulnerability can result in a denial of service, causing the mail client to crash due to a NULL pointer dereference.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-16117

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

Vulnerability Description

The issue in GNOME evolution-data-server before 3.35.91 allows a malicious server to trigger a NULL pointer dereference by sending an invalid CAPABILITY line during a connection attempt.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected system: GNOME evolution-data-server before version 3.35.91
Versions affected: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by sending a minimal or invalid CAPABILITY line during a connection attempt, leading to a crash in the mail client.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-16117 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update GNOME evolution-data-server to version 3.35.91 or later.
Monitor for any unusual server behavior that could indicate exploitation attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and apply security patches promptly.
Implement network security measures to detect and block malicious server activities.

Patching and Updates

Apply the security update provided by GNOME to address the vulnerability in evolution-data-server.