CVE-2020-20221 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2020-20221, a vulnerability in Mikrotik RouterOs before 6.44.6 allowing an authenticated remote attacker to cause a Denial of Service by overloading the CPU. Find out how to mitigate and prevent this issue.
Mikrotik RouterOs before 6.44.6 (long-term tree) suffers from an uncontrolled resource consumption vulnerability in the /nova/bin/cerm process, leading to a Denial of Service when exploited by an authenticated remote attacker.
Understanding CVE-2020-20221
This CVE involves a vulnerability in Mikrotik RouterOs that can be exploited to overload the system's CPU, causing a Denial of Service.
What is CVE-2020-20221?
The vulnerability in Mikrotik RouterOs before version 6.44.6 allows an authenticated remote attacker to trigger uncontrolled resource consumption in the /nova/bin/cerm process, resulting in a CPU overload and subsequent Denial of Service.
The Impact of CVE-2020-20221
Exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to a complete Denial of Service, rendering the affected system inaccessible and disrupting its normal operation.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-20221
This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability in Mikrotik RouterOs allows an authenticated remote attacker to cause uncontrolled resource consumption in the /nova/bin/cerm process, leading to CPU overload and a Denial of Service condition.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Affected system: Mikrotik RouterOs before version 6.44.6 (long-term tree)
- Versions affected: Not applicable
Exploitation Mechanism
An authenticated remote attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted requests to the /nova/bin/cerm process, causing excessive resource consumption and CPU overload.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2020-20221 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update Mikrotik RouterOs to version 6.44.6 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
- Monitor system performance for any signs of unusual resource consumption.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Implement strong authentication mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access.
- Regularly update and patch software to address known vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
- Apply patches and updates provided by Mikrotik promptly to address the vulnerability and enhance system security.