Description Preview
A denial-of-service vulnerability (CVE-2020-13578) exists in the WS-Security plugin functionality of Genivia gSOAP 2.8.107. This vulnerability is classified as CWE-476 (NULL Pointer Dereference). When processing specially crafted SOAP requests, the application can enter a denial of service condition. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending a malformed HTTP request to a server running the vulnerable gSOAP implementation, potentially causing the service to crash or become unresponsive.
Overview
The vulnerability affects Genivia gSOAP version 2.8.107, specifically within its WS-Security plugin component. WS-Security is an extension to SOAP that provides integrity and confidentiality for SOAP messages. The issue occurs when the plugin processes malformed SOAP requests containing specially crafted WS-Security elements. When encountering these malformed requests, the application may attempt to dereference a NULL pointer, resulting in application crashes and denial of service. This vulnerability can be exploited remotely by sending HTTP requests to services using the vulnerable gSOAP implementation.
Remediation
To remediate this vulnerability, system administrators should:
- Update gSOAP to a version newer than 2.8.107 that contains the security fix
- If immediate updating is not possible, consider implementing network-level filtering to block potentially malicious SOAP requests
- Monitor systems for signs of exploitation, such as unexpected service crashes
- Apply vendor-specific patches as they become available (see Debian and Fedora security updates in the references)
- Consider implementing input validation at the application level if possible to reject malformed SOAP requests before they reach the vulnerable component
References
- Talos Intelligence Vulnerability Report: https://talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2020-1189
- Debian LTS Security Update: https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/02/msg00015.html
- Fedora Security Update: https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/JINMAJB4WQASTKTNSPQL3V7YMSYPKIA2/
- Fedora Security Update: https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/SMTJ3SJJ22SFLBLPKFADV7NVBH7UFA23/
Industry ExposureMost to leastThis 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.
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.
- ManufacturingManufacturing
- Accommodation & Food ServicesAccommodation & Food Services
- Administrative, Support, Waste Management & Remediation ServicesAdministrative, Support, Waste Management & Remediation Services
- Agriculture, Forestry Fishing & HuntingAgriculture, Forestry Fishing & Hunting
- Arts, Entertainment & RecreationArts, Entertainment & Recreation
- ConstructionConstruction
- Educational ServicesEducational Services
- Finance and InsuranceFinance and Insurance
- Health Care & Social AssistanceHealth Care & Social Assistance
- InformationInformation
- Management of Companies & EnterprisesManagement of Companies & Enterprises
- MiningMining
- Other Services (except Public Administration)Other Services (except Public Administration)
- Professional, Scientific, & Technical ServicesProfessional, Scientific, & Technical Services
- Public AdministrationPublic Administration
- Real Estate Rental & LeasingReal Estate Rental & Leasing
- Retail TradeRetail Trade
- Transportation & WarehousingTransportation & Warehousing
- UtilitiesUtilities
- Wholesale TradeWholesale Trade
