CVE-2020-11896

Vulnerability

The vulnerability resides in the IPv4 tunneling component of the Treck TCP/IP stack, versions prior to 6.0.1.66 [1]. A remote, unauthenticated attacker can trigger a memory management bug by sending a specially crafted network packet that exploits the IPv4 tunneling feature [2]. This bug allows for out-of-bounds write or other memory corruption, leading to remote code execution [1]. The Treck IP stack is widely used in embedded systems, including industrial control and medical devices [1].

Exploitation

An attacker needs network access to send a single malicious IPv4 packet that is processed by the target device's Treck stack [1]. No authentication is required, and no user interaction is needed [2]. The attack is executed over the network by crafting a packet that exploits the tunneling logic, causing memory corruption [1]. The specific sequence of steps is not publicly detailed, but the vulnerability is remotely exploitable without credentials [2].

Impact

Successful exploitation allows a remote, unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code on the target device [1][2]. The attacker could then gain full control of the device, potentially leading to information disclosure, denial of service, or further compromise of the network [2]. The impact varies by device implementation due to differences in build options and runtime configurations [1].

Mitigation

Treck has released version 6.0.1.67 or later to address this vulnerability [1]. Downstream users should contact their embedded system vendor for updates [1]. As a workaround, organizations can employ deep packet inspection to block anomalous IP traffic [1]. Several vendors, including Dell and Cisco, have issued advisories for affected products [3][4]. No known exploitation in the wild has been reported as of the publication date.