CVE-2020-20214 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Mikrotik RouterOs 6.44.6 (long-term tree) is affected by an assertion failure vulnerability in the btest process, potentially leading to a Denial of Service attack.

Understanding CVE-2020-20214

This CVE identifies a specific vulnerability in Mikrotik RouterOs 6.44.6 that can be exploited by authenticated remote attackers to trigger a Denial of Service condition.

What is CVE-2020-20214?

The vulnerability in Mikrotik RouterOs 6.44.6 allows an authenticated remote attacker to cause a Denial of Service by exploiting an assertion failure through a specially crafted packet.

The Impact of CVE-2020-20214

The exploitation of this vulnerability can result in a Denial of Service condition, disrupting the normal operation of the affected system and potentially causing service unavailability.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-20214

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

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Mikrotik RouterOs 6.44.6 is due to an assertion failure in the btest process, which can be triggered by a crafted packet sent by an authenticated remote attacker.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Mikrotik RouterOs 6.44.6 (long-term tree)
Vendor: Mikrotik
Version: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

An authenticated remote attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending a specifically crafted packet to the affected system, triggering the assertion failure in the btest process and leading to a Denial of Service.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-20214 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-supplied patches or updates promptly.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software and firmware to address known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and mitigate potential weaknesses.
Educate users and administrators about safe security practices to prevent exploitation.
Implement strong access controls and authentication mechanisms to restrict unauthorized access.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that the affected Mikrotik RouterOs 6.44.6 systems are updated with the latest patches provided by the vendor to mitigate the vulnerability and enhance system security.