CVE-2020-9366 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A buffer overflow vulnerability was discovered in GNU Screen before version 4.8.0, potentially leading to memory corruption and crashes.

Understanding CVE-2020-9366

What is CVE-2020-9366?

CVE-2020-9366 is a buffer overflow vulnerability in GNU Screen related to the handling of the special escape OSC 49. An attacker could exploit this issue to corrupt memory and cause the application to crash or potentially execute arbitrary code.

The Impact of CVE-2020-9366

The vulnerability could allow an attacker to crash the GNU Screen application or potentially achieve other unspecified impacts by crafting malicious output or using a specially designed program.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-9366

Vulnerability Description

A buffer overflow was found in the way GNU Screen before 4.8.0 processed the special escape OSC 49, which could result in memory corruption and crashes.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Version: GNU Screen before 4.8.0

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by sending specially crafted output or using a specific program to trigger the buffer overflow.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update GNU Screen to version 4.8.0 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor vendor advisories and security mailing lists for any patches or updates.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and apply patches promptly to address known vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by the vendor to ensure the security of the GNU Screen application.