Security

Mitigation Instructions for CVE-2002-0655

Written by CyRisk Vulnerability Management Team | Feb 26, 2024 8:24:04 PM

SUBJECT:  Mitigating CVE-2002-0655: Integer Handling Vulnerability in OpenSSL

TECH STACK: OpenSSL 0.9.6d and earlier, and 0.9.7-beta2 and earlier

DATE(S) ISSUED: 08/12/2002

NVD Last Modified: 09/10/2008

CRITICALITY: 7.5 HIGH

OVERVIEW: 

CVE-2002-0655 is a vulnerability in OpenSSL versions 0.9.6d and earlier, and 0.9.7-beta2 and earlier, that arises from improper handling of ASCII representations of integers on 64-bit platforms. This vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker to:

  1. Cause a denial-of-service (DoS) attack, making the system unavailable to legitimate users.
  2. Potentially execute arbitrary code on the vulnerable system, allowing attackers to take complete control.

SOLUTION/MITIGATION: 

The recommended and most effective mitigation for CVE-2002-0655 is to upgrade to a non-vulnerable version of OpenSSL. Here are the specific steps:

  • Identify the OpenSSL version: Use the following command to check the installed OpenSSL version: openssl version.
  • Download the latest non-vulnerable version: Refer to the official OpenSSL website to download the latest version that is not affected by CVE-2002-0655.
  • Upgrade OpenSSL: Follow the instructions provided by the vendor or distribution for upgrading OpenSSL on your system.
  • Temporary Mitigation (if upgrading is not possible immediately):
  1. If immediate upgrade is not feasible, consider implementing the following temporary mitigation as a last resort:
  • Disable any applications or services that rely on vulnerable versions of OpenSSL. This reduces the attack surface but comes with the cost of potentially losing functionality.

Confirmation & Additional Information:

  1. Once you have upgraded OpenSSL, verify the new version using the command mentioned earlier.
  2. Regularly update your systems and software to address security vulnerabilities.
  3. Consider the security implications of using software that is no longer supported by the vendor. Outdated software may have additional vulnerabilities and may not receive critical security updates.

Consult the references listed in the NVD entry for additional information and potential vendor advisories.

References:
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