CVE-2018-12679: CoAPthon3 - Denial of Service Vulnerability
Summary
CVE-2018-12679: The Serialize.deserialize() method in CoAPthon3 1.0 and 1.0.1 mishandles certain exceptions, leading to a denial of service in applications that use this library (e.g., the standard CoAP server, CoAP client, example coll... Affects coapthon3 versions >= 1.0. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
CoAPthon3 is a Python library that provides CoAP (Constrained Application Protocol) functionality for building CoAP servers and clients. It is commonly used in applications that require lightweight communication between IoT devices. The library allows developers to send and receive CoAP messages, enabling efficient communication over constrained networks. However, versions 1.0 and 1.0.1 of CoAPthon3 are vulnerable to a denial of service attack when handling certain exceptions in the Serialize.deserialize() method. This vulnerability affects applications that utilize the CoAPthon3 library, including the standard CoAP server, CoAP client, and example collect CoAP server and client.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in CoAPthon3 arises from mishandling certain exceptions in the Serialize.deserialize() method. When the library receives crafted CoAP messages, it fails to handle these exceptions properly, leading to a denial of service condition. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted CoAP messages to the affected application, causing it to crash or become unresponsive. The impact of this vulnerability can range from service disruption to complete system failure, depending on the criticality of the affected application.
How To Fix
No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.
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Workaround
As a temporary workaround, developers can implement input validation and sanitization mechanisms to filter out potentially malicious or malformed CoAP messages. By carefully inspecting incoming messages and discarding those that exhibit suspicious behavior, the impact of this vulnerability can be mitigated. However, this workaround may not provide complete protection and should be considered a temporary measure until the library is updated.
Conclusion
CoAPthon3 versions 1.0 and 1.0.1 are vulnerable to a denial of service attack due to mishandling of exceptions in the Serialize.deserialize() method. To mitigate this vulnerability, it is crucial to update the CoAPthon3 library to a version that includes the necessary patches. Developers should also consider implementing input validation mechanisms to filter out potentially malicious CoAP messages. For further assistance and support in vulnerability remediation, you can reach out to DevNack.com.
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FAQ
CoAPthon3 is a Python library that enables the implementation of CoAP servers and clients. It facilitates lightweight communication between IoT devices over constrained networks.
The vulnerability in CoAPthon3 can result in a denial of service condition, causing affected applications to crash or become unresponsive. The severity of the impact depends on the criticality of the affected application.
To fix this vulnerability, it is recommended to update the CoAPthon3 library to a version that includes the necessary patches. Upgrading to the latest version (post 1.0.1) should resolve the vulnerability.
As a temporary workaround, developers can implement input validation and sanitization mechanisms to filter out potentially malicious or malformed CoAP messages. However, this workaround may not provide complete protection and should be considered a temporary measure.
For more information about this vulnerability, you can refer to the CoAPthon3 advisory on the PyPI advisory database: https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/blob/main/vulns/coapthon3/PYSEC-2019-166.yaml
