CVE-2023-24820 : What You Need to Know

This CVE involves a vulnerability in RIOT-OS, an operating system supporting Internet of Things devices. The vulnerability allows an attacker to trigger an out-of-bounds write in the network stack, resulting in a denial of service. The issue has been assigned a high severity base score of 7.5.

Understanding CVE-2023-24820

This section delves into the details of CVE-2023-24820, shedding light on its impact, technical aspects, and necessary mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-24820?

CVE-2023-24820 refers to an integer underflow vulnerability in the RIOT-OS network stack, specifically during the processing of 6LoWPAN frames. By sending a carefully crafted frame to the device, an attacker can trigger an out-of-bounds write beyond the packet buffer. This action results in a hard fault exception when the last page of RAM is reached, causing the system to become unresponsive until reset.

The Impact of CVE-2023-24820

The impact of this vulnerability is a denial of service, where the system will be stuck in an unresponsive state until a manual reset is performed. This can disrupt the normal operation of Internet of Things devices running on RIOT-OS, potentially leading to operational downtime and service interruptions.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-24820

This section provides insights into the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises due to an integer underflow in the RIOT-OS network stack, allowing an attacker to execute an out-of-bounds write beyond the packet buffer. This exploit can lead to a hard fault exception and subsequent denial of service.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects RIOT-OS versions prior to 2022.10, making devices running on these versions susceptible to the integer underflow issue in the network stack.

Exploitation Mechanism

By sending a specially crafted frame to the RIOT-OS device, an attacker can manipulate the network stack to trigger the out-of-bounds write, exploiting the vulnerability and causing a denial of service.

Mitigation and Prevention

In response to CVE-2023-24820, implementing mitigation measures is crucial to safeguard affected systems and prevent exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update their RIOT-OS installations to version 2022.10 or later to patch the vulnerability and prevent malicious exploitation.
As a workaround, applying the necessary patch manually can help mitigate the risk of a denial of service attack through the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing regular security updates and staying informed about emerging vulnerabilities in RIOT-OS and other software components is essential for maintaining a secure IoT environment.

Patching and Updates

Staying proactive in installing software patches and updates provided by RIOT-OS can help address known vulnerabilities, including CVE-2023-24820, and enhance the overall security posture of IoT devices running on the operating system.