CVE-2020-1971 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This article provides an overview of CVE-2020-1971, focusing on a vulnerability in OpenSSL that could lead to a denial of service attack.

Understanding CVE-2020-1971

CVE-2020-1971 is a vulnerability in OpenSSL affecting versions 1.1.1 and 1.0.2.

What is CVE-2020-1971?

The X.509 GeneralName type in OpenSSL, specifically the EDIPartyName, could lead to a NULL pointer dereference, potentially causing a denial of service attack.

The Impact of CVE-2020-1971

This vulnerability could allow an attacker to trigger a crash by manipulating certificates and CRLs in OpenSSL versions 1.1.1 and 1.0.2.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-1971

CVE-2020-1971 involves:

Vulnerability Description

OpenSSL's GENERAL_NAME_cmp function behaves incorrectly with EDIPARTYNAME instances, leading to a possible denial of service attack.

Affected Systems and Versions

Versions 1.1.1 and 1.0.2 of OpenSSL are affected.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can trigger a crash by controlling items being compared in certificates and CRLs.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2020-1971:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update OpenSSL to versions 1.1.1i or 1.0.2x to mitigate the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update OpenSSL and implement secure coding practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches released by OpenSSL promptly to ensure the security of your systems.