CVE-2020-24336 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Discover the impact of CVE-2020-24336 affecting Contiki through 3.0 and Contiki-NG through 4.5. Learn about the buffer overflow vulnerability and how to mitigate the risk.
Contiki through 3.0 and Contiki-NG through 4.5 are affected by a vulnerability in the code for parsing Type A domain name answers in ip64-dns64.c. This flaw can lead to a buffer overflow when copying an address of arbitrary length, potentially exploitable when NAT64 is enabled.
Understanding CVE-2020-24336
An issue discovered in Contiki and Contiki-NG versions that can result in a buffer overflow due to improper address length verification.
What is CVE-2020-24336?
The vulnerability arises from inadequate address length validation in the code for parsing Type A domain name answers in ip64-dns64.c, potentially leading to a buffer overflow.
The Impact of CVE-2020-24336
The vulnerability can be exploited to trigger a buffer overflow, especially when NAT64 is enabled, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or denial of service.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-24336
The technical aspects of the vulnerability in Contiki and Contiki-NG.
Vulnerability Description
The issue stems from the lack of proper address length verification in ip64-dns64.c, allowing a buffer overflow when copying addresses of varying lengths.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Contiki through version 3.0
- Contiki-NG through version 4.5
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability can be exploited whenever NAT64 is enabled, allowing attackers to trigger a buffer overflow.
Mitigation and Prevention
Steps to mitigate and prevent the CVE-2020-24336 vulnerability.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Disable NAT64 if not essential for network operations
- Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update Contiki and Contiki-NG to patched versions
- Conduct security assessments and code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities
- Educate network administrators on secure coding practices
- Monitor network traffic for any signs of exploitation
Patching and Updates
Apply patches provided by Contiki and Contiki-NG to address the buffer overflow vulnerability.