CVE-2020-27223 : Security Advisory and Response

Eclipse Jetty versions 9.4.6.v20170531 to 9.4.36.v20210114, 10.0.0, and 11.0.0 are affected by a denial of service vulnerability due to high CPU usage when processing multiple Accept headers with numerous quality parameters.

Understanding CVE-2020-27223

This CVE impacts Eclipse Jetty versions, potentially leading to a denial of service condition.

What is CVE-2020-27223?

CVE-2020-27223 is a vulnerability in Eclipse Jetty that can exhaust CPU resources, causing a denial of service due to processing multiple Accept headers with a large number of quality parameters.

The Impact of CVE-2020-27223

The vulnerability can result in a denial of service state, consuming excessive CPU time when handling specific types of HTTP requests.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-27223

Eclipse Jetty versions 9.4.6.v20170531 to 9.4.36.v20210114, 10.0.0, and 11.0.0 are affected by this vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

When Jetty processes requests with multiple Accept headers containing numerous quality parameters, it may enter a denial of service state due to high CPU usage.

Affected Systems and Versions

Eclipse Jetty 9.4.6.v20170531 to 9.4.36.v20210114
Eclipse Jetty 10.0.0
Eclipse Jetty 11.0.0

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by sending HTTP requests with multiple Accept headers containing a large number of quality parameters, leading to a DoS condition.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2020-27223, follow these steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches provided by Eclipse Foundation.
Monitor CPU usage for any unusual spikes.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Jetty to the latest version.
Implement network-level protections to mitigate DoS attacks.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that you update Eclipse Jetty to the patched versions to mitigate the vulnerability.