CVE-2018-18765

An exploitable arbitrary memory read vulnerability exists in the MQTT packet-parsing functionality of Cesanta Mongoose 6.13

published October 28, 2018

CVSS
—
EPSS
2%
Percentile
78.8
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

⚠️ Oops! A crafty MQTT packet can sneak into your Cesanta Mongoose 6.13 and trigger a heap-based buffer over-read — like a waiter who spills your drink while trying to serve your table! Picture a busy restaurant where the waiter accidentally drops a tray of drinks while trying to serve a special order. The chaos that follows can lead to information getting lost or even someone being denied their beverage — just like this vulnerability allows attackers to leak sensitive information or create a denial of service situation. An attacker sending a specially crafted MQTT SUBSCRIBE packet could potentially read arbitrary chunks of memory, leading to sensitive information disclosure. This could result in disruptions or, in worse cases, even a denial of service, making your server as useful as a restaurant without drinks!

Put simply

Picture a busy restaurant where the waiter accidentally drops a tray of drinks while trying to serve a special order. The chaos that follows can lead to information getting lost or even someone being denied their beverage — just like this vulnerability allows attackers to leak sensitive information or create a denial of service situation. This vulnerability lies in the MQTT packet-parsing functionality of Cesanta Mongoose 6.13, particularly in the `mg_mqtt_next_subscribe_topic` function, where a buffer over-read occurs, allowing attackers to read memory they shouldn't access.

What to do

An attacker sending a specially crafted MQTT SUBSCRIBE packet could potentially read arbitrary chunks of memory, leading to sensitive information disclosure. This could result in disruptions or, in worse cases, even a denial of service, making your server as useful as a restaurant without drinks! To safeguard against this vulnerability, ensure you upgrade Cesanta Mongoose to the latest version. Review your MQTT packet handling to validate inputs and keep an eye on patches that address security concerns. Don't overlook network security practices! You've got this! With these steps, you'll have your system fortified in no time. 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS
Not scored
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.01835 · 78.8th percentile
Published
2018-10-28T19:00Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 28 OCT 19:00Z
    An exploitable arbitrary memory read vulnerability exists in the MQTT packet-parsing functionality of Cesanta Mongoose 6.13
    cvelistv5