CVE-2020-20216 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2020-20216, a memory corruption vulnerability in Mikrotik RouterOs 6.44.6, allowing an authenticated remote attacker to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) attack. Find mitigation steps and preventive measures here.
Mikrotik RouterOs 6.44.6 (long-term tree) suffers from a memory corruption vulnerability in the /nova/bin/graphing process, allowing an authenticated remote attacker to cause a Denial of Service (NULL pointer dereference).
Understanding CVE-2020-20216
This CVE identifies a specific vulnerability in Mikrotik RouterOs 6.44.6 that can be exploited by an authenticated remote attacker.
What is CVE-2020-20216?
CVE-2020-20216 is a memory corruption vulnerability in the /nova/bin/graphing process of Mikrotik RouterOs 6.44.6, which enables an attacker to trigger a Denial of Service (DoS) attack through a NULL pointer dereference.
The Impact of CVE-2020-20216
The exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to a DoS condition, disrupting the normal operation of the affected system and potentially causing service unavailability.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-20216
This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the CVE.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability in Mikrotik RouterOs 6.44.6 allows an authenticated remote attacker to exploit a memory corruption issue in the /nova/bin/graphing process, resulting in a NULL pointer dereference and subsequent DoS.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Affected Product: Mikrotik RouterOs 6.44.6 (long-term tree)
- Affected Version: Not applicable
Exploitation Mechanism
An attacker with authenticated remote access can send specially crafted requests to the vulnerable /nova/bin/graphing process, triggering the memory corruption and leading to a DoS condition.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2020-20216 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply vendor-supplied patches or updates to address the vulnerability.
- Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity targeting the /nova/bin/graphing process.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Implement strong authentication mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access.
- Regularly update and patch systems to mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
Ensure timely installation of security patches and updates provided by Mikrotik to remediate the vulnerability.