CVE-2020-35471 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Envoy before 1.16.1 mishandles dropped and truncated datagrams, leading to a segmentation fault for UDP packets larger than 1500 bytes.

Understanding CVE-2020-35471

This CVE involves a vulnerability in Envoy that can result in a segmentation fault when processing oversized UDP packets.

What is CVE-2020-35471?

CVE-2020-35471 is a vulnerability in Envoy versions prior to 1.16.1 that mishandles dropped and truncated datagrams, causing a segmentation fault for UDP packets exceeding 1500 bytes.

The Impact of CVE-2020-35471

The vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker to trigger a segmentation fault, potentially leading to a denial of service (DoS) condition or other security risks.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-35471

This section provides more in-depth technical information about the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

Envoy before version 1.16.1 mishandles dropped and truncated datagrams, resulting in a segmentation fault when processing UDP packets larger than 1500 bytes.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: Envoy
Affected Version: < 1.16.1

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by sending oversized UDP packets to the affected Envoy instances, triggering a segmentation fault.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2020-35471 with the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Envoy to version 1.16.1 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any signs of abnormal UDP packet sizes.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software components to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates promptly to ensure that your systems are protected against the latest threats.