CVE-2020-7226 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2020-7226 affecting Cryptacular 1.2.3 used in Apereo CAS. Find out the impact, affected systems, exploitation mechanism, and mitigation steps to secure your systems.
Cryptacular 1.2.3, as utilized in Apereo CAS and other products, is affected by a vulnerability that allows attackers to cause excessive memory allocation. The issue arises due to the dependency of the nonce array length on untrusted input within the encoded data header.
Understanding CVE-2020-7226
This CVE pertains to a vulnerability in Cryptacular 1.2.3, impacting various products like Apereo CAS.
What is CVE-2020-7226?
CVE-2020-7226 involves CiphertextHeader.java in Cryptacular 1.2.3, enabling attackers to induce excessive memory allocation during a decode operation by manipulating the nonce array length based on untrusted input within the encoded data header.
The Impact of CVE-2020-7226
The vulnerability can be exploited by malicious actors to trigger significant memory allocation, potentially leading to denial of service or other security breaches.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-7226
Cryptacular 1.2.3 vulnerability details and affected systems.
Vulnerability Description
The flaw in CiphertextHeader.java allows attackers to manipulate memory allocation by influencing the nonce array length based on untrusted input within the encoded data header.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: Cryptacular 1.2.3
- Vendor: Apereo CAS and other products
- Version: All versions are affected
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by providing malicious input within the encoded data header, causing the nonce array length to be manipulated and leading to excessive memory allocation.
Mitigation and Prevention
Steps to mitigate and prevent the CVE-2020-7226 vulnerability.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update Cryptacular to version 1.2.4 or later to address the vulnerability.
- Implement input validation mechanisms to prevent untrusted input manipulation.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly monitor and update software dependencies to ensure the latest security patches are applied.
- Conduct security audits and code reviews to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
- Apply patches provided by Cryptacular to fix the vulnerability.
- Stay informed about security alerts and updates from relevant vendors and communities.