CVE-2020-20217 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis
Learn about CVE-2020-20217 affecting Mikrotik RouterOs before 6.47. An authenticated attacker can cause a Denial of Service by overloading the system's CPU. Find mitigation steps and long-term security practices here.
Mikrotik RouterOs before 6.47 (stable tree) is vulnerable to an uncontrolled resource consumption issue in the /nova/bin/route process, allowing an authenticated remote attacker to trigger a Denial of Service by overloading the system's CPU.
Understanding CVE-2020-20217
This CVE involves a vulnerability in Mikrotik RouterOs that can be exploited by an authenticated remote attacker to cause a Denial of Service by consuming excessive system resources.
What is CVE-2020-20217?
The vulnerability in Mikrotik RouterOs before version 6.47 allows an attacker to overload the system's CPU, leading to a Denial of Service condition.
The Impact of CVE-2020-20217
The exploitation of this vulnerability can result in a complete Denial of Service, rendering the affected system inaccessible to legitimate users.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-20217
This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability lies in the /nova/bin/route process of Mikrotik RouterOs before version 6.47, enabling an authenticated remote attacker to exhaust system resources, causing a Denial of Service.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Affected System: Mikrotik RouterOs before version 6.47
- Affected Versions: Not specified
Exploitation Mechanism
An authenticated remote attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted requests to the /nova/bin/route process, leading to excessive resource consumption and system unresponsiveness.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2020-20217 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update Mikrotik RouterOs to version 6.47 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
- Monitor system resources for unusual consumption that could indicate an ongoing attack.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.
- Regularly review and update access controls to prevent unauthorized access to critical system components.
Patching and Updates
- Apply security patches and updates provided by Mikrotik promptly to address known vulnerabilities and enhance system security.