CVE-2020-8941 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

An arbitrary memory read vulnerability in Asylo versions up to 0.6.0 allows an untrusted attacker to exploit the enc_untrusted_inet_pton function, potentially leading to a buffer overrun.

Understanding CVE-2020-8941

This CVE involves an unchecked buffer overrun in the enc_untrusted_inet_pton function within Asylo versions up to 0.6.0.

What is CVE-2020-8941?

This vulnerability allows an untrusted attacker to manipulate a specific parameter, leading to memory read operations beyond the intended buffer size, potentially compromising the security of the system.

The Impact of CVE-2020-8941

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as MEDIUM severity with a CVSS base score of 5.3. It poses a high risk to confidentiality and a low risk to integrity, requiring low privileges for exploitation.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-8941

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from an unchecked parameter in the enc_untrusted_inet_pton function, allowing an attacker to read memory locations outside the intended buffer size, including secure enclave memory addresses.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Asylo
Vendor: Google LLC
Versions Affected: Up to 0.6.0

Exploitation Mechanism

The attacker can exploit the vulnerability by manipulating the klinux_addr_buffer parameter, leading to arbitrary memory read operations beyond the buffer's boundaries.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2020-8941, follow these mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Asylo to a version beyond 0.6.0
Implement security best practices to limit the impact of potential buffer overruns

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to address known vulnerabilities
Conduct security audits and code reviews to identify and mitigate similar issues

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by the vendor promptly to address the vulnerability