CVE-2020-19186 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A Buffer Overflow vulnerability in _nc_find_entry function in ncurses 6.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a crafted command.

Understanding CVE-2020-19186

This CVE identifies a specific vulnerability in the ncurses library that can be exploited by remote attackers to disrupt services.

What is CVE-2020-19186?

The vulnerability lies in the _nc_find_entry function in the ncurses library version 6.1, where a buffer overflow can be triggered by sending a specially crafted command remotely.

The Impact of CVE-2020-19186

The exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to a denial of service, causing the affected system to become unresponsive or crash.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-19186

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability is a Buffer Overflow issue in the _nc_find_entry function in the ncurses library version 6.1.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: n/a
Product: n/a
Versions: All versions are affected.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability remotely by sending specifically crafted commands to trigger the buffer overflow.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2020-19186, follow these steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor patches or updates as soon as they are available.
Monitor security advisories for any new information or patches related to this vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
Implement network security measures to detect and block malicious activities.
Conduct regular security audits and assessments to identify and address potential weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that the affected systems are updated with the latest patches provided by the vendor to fix the vulnerability.