CVE-2020-17441 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

An issue was discovered in picoTCP 1.7.0 where the code for processing IPv6 headers does not validate the IPv6 payload length field, leading to an Out-of-Bounds read during ICMPv6 checksum calculation, resulting in Denial-of-Service or Information Disclosure.

Understanding CVE-2020-17441

This CVE affects picoTCP 1.7.0 and poses a risk of Denial-of-Service or Information Disclosure due to improper validation of IPv6 payload length.

What is CVE-2020-17441?

CVE-2020-17441 is a vulnerability in picoTCP 1.7.0 that arises from the lack of validation for the IPv6 payload length field, potentially causing an Out-of-Bounds read during ICMPv6 checksum calculation.

The Impact of CVE-2020-17441

The vulnerability can lead to Denial-of-Service attacks or Information Disclosure due to the incorrect processing of IPv6 headers in picoTCP 1.7.0.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-17441

This section provides detailed technical information about the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The issue in picoTCP 1.7.0 allows for an Out-of-Bounds read during ICMPv6 checksum calculation, resulting from the lack of validation for the IPv6 payload length field.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Version: picoTCP 1.7.0

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by manipulating IPv6 headers to trigger an Out-of-Bounds read during ICMPv6 checksum calculation.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2020-17441 with the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update picoTCP to a patched version that addresses the vulnerability.
Implement network-level controls to detect and block malicious IPv6 traffic.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update network security configurations.
Conduct security assessments to identify and remediate vulnerabilities proactively.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and updates from picoTCP.
Apply patches promptly to mitigate the risk of exploitation.