CVE-2020-25125 : What You Need to Know
Learn about CVE-2020-25125 affecting GnuPG 2.2.21 and 2.2.22, leading to a crash or other impacts when importing malicious OpenPGP keys. Find mitigation steps and preventive measures.
GnuPG 2.2.21 and 2.2.22 (and Gpg4win 3.1.12) has an array overflow vulnerability that can lead to a crash or other impacts when importing an attacker's OpenPGP key with AEAD preferences. This overflow is due to an error in g10/key-check.c. GnuPG 2.3.x is not affected, and GnuPG 2.2.23 addresses this issue.
Understanding CVE-2020-25125
This CVE involves a vulnerability in GnuPG versions 2.2.21 and 2.2.22, potentially causing a crash or other unspecified impacts when handling specific OpenPGP keys.
What is CVE-2020-25125?
GnuPG 2.2.21 and 2.2.22, along with Gpg4win 3.1.12, are susceptible to an array overflow issue triggered by importing a malicious OpenPGP key with AEAD preferences.
The Impact of CVE-2020-25125
The vulnerability can result in a crash or other unspecified consequences when a victim imports an attacker's OpenPGP key with specific preferences, potentially leading to a security breach.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-25125
This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The array overflow vulnerability in GnuPG 2.2.21 and 2.2.22 occurs when processing OpenPGP keys with AEAD preferences, leading to a potential crash or other impacts.
Affected Systems and Versions
- GnuPG 2.2.21
- GnuPG 2.2.22
- Gpg4win 3.1.12
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability is exploited by importing a crafted OpenPGP key with AEAD preferences, triggering the array overflow in the key-checking process.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2020-25125 requires immediate actions and long-term security measures.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update GnuPG to version 2.2.23 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
- Avoid importing OpenPGP keys from untrusted or unknown sources.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update software and security patches to prevent known vulnerabilities.
- Implement secure key management practices to minimize the risk of key-related attacks.
Patching and Updates
Ensure timely installation of software updates and security patches to address known vulnerabilities and enhance system security.