CVE-2020-24696 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Discover the impact of CVE-2020-24696 affecting PowerDNS Authoritative through 4.3.0. Learn about the vulnerability, affected systems, exploitation, and mitigation steps.
PowerDNS Authoritative through 4.3.0 is affected by a vulnerability when using --enable-experimental-gss-tsig, allowing remote attackers to trigger a race condition leading to a crash or potential code execution.
Understanding CVE-2020-24696
This CVE involves a security issue in PowerDNS Authoritative that can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers.
What is CVE-2020-24696?
An issue in PowerDNS Authoritative through version 4.3.0 allows remote, unauthenticated attackers to exploit a race condition by sending specially crafted queries with a GSS-TSIG signature, potentially resulting in a crash or arbitrary code execution.
The Impact of CVE-2020-24696
The vulnerability could lead to a denial of service (DoS) condition or enable attackers to execute arbitrary code on the affected system.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-24696
PowerDNS Authoritative through version 4.3.0 is susceptible to exploitation due to a race condition triggered by crafted queries with a GSS-TSIG signature.
Vulnerability Description
The issue arises when the --enable-experimental-gss-tsig feature is enabled, allowing unauthenticated remote attackers to exploit a race condition.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: PowerDNS Authoritative
- Versions: up to and including 4.3.0
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by sending specially crafted queries with a GSS-TSIG signature, triggering a race condition that may lead to a crash or arbitrary code execution.
Mitigation and Prevention
To address CVE-2020-24696, follow these mitigation steps:
Immediate Steps to Take
- Disable the --enable-experimental-gss-tsig feature if not required
- Implement network-level controls to restrict access to vulnerable services
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update PowerDNS Authoritative to the latest version
- Monitor security advisories and apply patches promptly
Patching and Updates
Ensure that PowerDNS Authoritative is updated to version 4.3.1 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.