SUBJECT: Mitigating OpenSSL Vulnerabilities: Buffer Overflow Risks
TECH STACK: OpenSSL
DATE(S) ISSUED: 07/30/2002
NVD Last Modified: 06/12/2020
CRITICALITY: 10 CRITICAL
OVERVIEW: This document provides guidance on addressing critical vulnerabilities in versions of OpenSSL prior to 0.9.6e or 0.9.7-beta3. The affected OpenSSL versions are susceptible to a buffer overflow vulnerability that could permit an attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the remote host under the privileges of the application. Immediate action is required to mitigate this high-risk factor and ensure system integrity.
SOLUTION/MITIGATION:
- Upgrade OpenSSL: It is strongly recommended to update to OpenSSL version 0.9.6e / 0.9.7beta3 or newer. This upgrade resolves the buffer overflow issue and closes the door to potential exploit attempts targeting this vulnerability.
Additional mitigation steps:
- Review Application Privileges: Ensure that applications using OpenSSL do not operate with elevated privileges, limiting the potential impact of an exploit.
- Monitor Network Traffic: Keep an eye on network traffic for unusual patterns that may indicate an attempt to exploit this vulnerability.
- Apply Principle of Least Privilege: Restrict system and network access to only what is necessary for operations, minimizing the potential damage of a compromise.
Confirmation & Additional Information:
- Confirm that OpenSSL has been successfully updated to a secure version.
- Stay informed on OpenSSL updates and apply security patches promptly.
- For further details and updates, refer to CVE entries: CVE-2000-0535, CVE-2001-1141, CVE-2002-0655, CVE-2002-0656, CVE-2002-0657, CVE-2002-0659.
Reference Information:
- Risk Information: High Risk (VPR Score: 7.0), Critical (CVSS v2 Base Score: 10)
- Patch Publication Date: 07/30/2002
- Vulnerability Publication Date: 07/10/2001
- Exploit Availability: True. Exploits for these vulnerabilities are known to be available.
- Mitigation urgency: Given the critical nature of these vulnerabilities, upgrading OpenSSL should be prioritized to protect against potential exploits.
- OpenSSL Downloads https://www.openssl.org/source/
