CVE-2023-5632 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This CVE-2023-5632 pertains to a vulnerability found in Eclipse Mosquitto before and including version 2.0.5, where establishing a connection to the mosquitto server without sending data triggers the addition of the EPOLLOUT event, leading to excessive CPU consumption. This could potentially enable a malicious actor to execute a denial of service type attack. The issue has been addressed in version 2.0.6.

Understanding CVE-2023-5632

This section delves into the details of CVE-2023-5632.

What is CVE-2023-5632?

The vulnerability in CVE-2023-5632 arises from establishing a connection to Eclipse Mosquitto server without sending data, causing the addition of the EPOLLOUT event and resulting in excessive CPU consumption. This flaw could be exploited by threat actors to carry out denial of service attacks.

The Impact of CVE-2023-5632

The impact of CVE-2023-5632 is classified under CAPEC-130: Excessive Allocation. This vulnerability poses a significant threat to system availability, with a base severity score of 7.5 out of 10 and high availability impact according to the CVSS v3.1 metrics.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-5632

This section outlines the technical aspects of CVE-2023-5632.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Eclipse Mosquitto before and including version 2.0.5 allows attackers to trigger heightened CPU consumption by establishing a connection without sending data. This could lead to denial of service attacks if exploited maliciously.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected product in this CVE is Mosquitto, specifically versions up to and including 2.0.5. Users of these versions are at risk of falling victim to the vulnerability described above.

Exploitation Mechanism

By simply establishing a connection to the mosquitto server without transmitting any data, attackers can exploit this vulnerability to initiate the EPOLLOUT event, causing excessive CPU usage and potentially launching denial of service attacks.

Mitigation and Prevention

Understanding how to mitigate and prevent CVE-2023-5632 is crucial to enhancing system security.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users of Eclipse Mosquitto version 2.0.5 and below should upgrade to version 2.0.6 or newer, where the issue has been resolved. It is crucial to apply patches promptly to safeguard systems against potential attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Additionally, implementing robust security measures such as network monitoring, access controls, and regular security audits can help prevent and detect similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Regularly checking for updates and patches released by Eclipse for Mosquitto is vital to ensure that known vulnerabilities are promptly addressed, reducing the risk of exploitation and enhancing overall system security.