CVE-2019-12257:CVE-2019-12257: Buffer/heap overflow vulnerability in Wind River VxWorks DHCP client (ipdhcpc) within the IPNET stack, affecting VxWorks 6.6 through 6.9.

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Description Preview

Wind River VxWorks versions 6.6 through 6.9 contain a buffer/heap overflow in the DHCP client component (ipdhcpc) of the IPNET stack. The overflow occurs during DHCP Offer/ACK parsing, which may allow a remote attacker to cause memory corruption, potentially crash the system or take control of the device.

Overview

This CVE identifies a heap/buffer overflow in the DHCP client (ipdhcpc) of the IPNET networking stack used by Wind River VxWorks 6.6–6.9. The vulnerability arises from improper parsing of DHCP Offer/ACK messages, leading to potential memory corruption. Affected products are Wind River VxWorks 6.6 through 6.9, and multiple security advisories and vendor notes have been published with mitigations and patches.

Remediation

  • Apply the vendor fix: upgrade to a version or apply a patch that includes the IPNET DHCP stack vulnerability fix (as referenced in Wind River IPNET urgent11 and related advisories).
  • If upgrading is not immediately possible:
    • Disable DHCP client on devices where feasible and configure static IP addressing.
    • Restrict DHCP traffic: segment networks and implement access controls to limit DHCP messages to trusted networks only.
    • Place affected systems behind monitored borders with enhanced network security controls (firewalls, IDS/IPS) to detect abnormal DHCP traffic.
    • Monitor for signs of exploitation attempts or abnormal DHCP Offer/ACK activity and review relevant logs.
  • Validate patches in a test environment before rollout and verify that the DHCP parser code path has been updated.

References

  • Wind River support: security notices (MISC) https://support2.windriver.com/index.php?page=security-notices
  • SonicWall PSIRT advisory SNWLID-2019-0009 https://psirt.global.sonicwall.com/vuln-detail/SNWLID-2019-0009
  • Siemens SSA-632562 security bulletin https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-632562.pdf
  • NetApp advisory NTAP-20190802-0001 https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20190802-0001/
  • Wind River IPNET urgent11 security announcement https://www.windriver.com/security/announcements/tcp-ip-network-stack-ipnet-urgent11/
  • Wind River CVE view for CVE-2019-12257 https://support2.windriver.com/index.php?page=cve&on=view&id=CVE-2019-12257
  • F5 article K41190253 https://support.f5.com/csp/article/K41190253
  • Siemens SSA-189842 security bulletin https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-189842.pdf

Industry ExposureMost to least
This section illustrates the prevalence of a specific Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) across various industries based on customer reports. The ranking displays industries from the most to least affected by this particular vulnerability, offering valuable insight into where this CVE has been most frequently observed. This information can help organizations within these sectors prioritize their security efforts, understand their relative risk exposure compared to their peers, and focus remediation strategies where they are most needed. By understanding the industry-specific impact, organizations can make more informed decisions regarding patching, resource allocation, and overall risk management related to this CVE.

  1. Manufacturing: Medium
    Manufacturing
  2. Health Care & Social Assistance: Medium
    Health Care & Social Assistance
  3. Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services: Low
    Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services
  4. Public Administration: Low
    Public Administration
  5. Retail Trade: Low
    Retail Trade
  6. Utilities: Low
    Utilities
  7. Transportation & Warehousing: Low
    Transportation & Warehousing
  8. Other Services (except Public Administration): Low
    Other Services (except Public Administration)
  9. Agriculture, Forestry Fishing & Hunting: Low
    Agriculture, Forestry Fishing & Hunting
  10. Mining: Low
    Mining
  11. Accommodation & Food Services: Low
    Accommodation & Food Services
  12. Information: Low
    Information
  13. Arts, Entertainment & Recreation: Low
    Arts, Entertainment & Recreation
  14. Educational Services: Low
    Educational Services
  15. Finance and Insurance: Low
    Finance and Insurance
  16. Management of Companies & Enterprises: Low
    Management of Companies & Enterprises
  17. Administrative, Support, Waste Management & Remediation Services: Low
    Administrative, Support, Waste Management & Remediation Services
  18. Construction: Low
    Construction
  19. Real Estate Rental & Leasing: Low
    Real Estate Rental & Leasing
  20. Wholesale Trade: Low
    Wholesale Trade

Focus on What Matters

  1. See Everything.
  2. Identify True Risk.
  3. Proactively Mitigate Threats.

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