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CVE Record

CVE-2018-20352: Use-after-free vulnerability in the mg_cgi_ev_handler function in mongoose.c in Cesanta Mongoose Embedded W...

Use-after-free vulnerability in the mg_cgi_ev_handler function in mongoose.c in Cesanta Mongoose Embedded Web Server Library 6.13 and earlier allows a denial of service (application crash) or remote code execution.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2018-20352 is a memory safety flaw in Cesanta Mongoose Embedded Web Server Library 6.13 and earlier. The public record says it can crash an application and may allow remote code execution. Business urgency depends on whether affected Mongoose versions are embedded in exposed products or services.

Executive priority

Treat this as a high-priority exposure discovery item, not confirmed compromise. Focus first on externally reachable embedded web services and vendor-managed devices where patch visibility may be weak.

Technical view

The issue is a use-after-free in mg_cgi_ev_handler in mongoose.c. The CVE describes impact as denial of service through application crash or remote code execution. The source bundle does not provide CVSS, CWE, affected CPEs, patch details, or confirmed exploitation.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely limited to applications, firmware, or devices embedding Cesanta Mongoose Embedded Web Server Library 6.13 or earlier. The bundle does not identify downstream products, so asset owners must confirm dependency use through SBOMs, source review, or vendor attestations.

Exploitation context

CISA KEV status is false, and the provided sources do not claim active exploitation. A public GitHub fuzzing reference exists, indicating research visibility, but the bundle does not establish weaponized exploits, exploitation in the wild, or exploit maturity.

Researcher notes

The CVE record is sparse: no CVSS vector, CWE, patch reference, or downstream CPE mapping is provided. Analysis should stay scoped to Mongoose 6.13 and earlier until vendor or product-specific evidence confirms broader exposure.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory products and codebases for Mongoose Embedded Web Server Library 6.13 or earlier.
  • Check Cesanta or product-vendor guidance for fixed versions or supported mitigations.
  • Prioritize Internet-facing or remotely reachable embedded web interfaces.
  • Restrict network access to affected embedded web services where feasible.
  • Disable unused CGI-related functionality only if vendor guidance supports it.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm exact Mongoose library versions in SBOMs, firmware manifests, or source trees.
  • Identify whether affected web server functionality is enabled and remotely reachable.
  • Review crash logs for web requests preceding application termination.
  • Ask vendors whether their products embed vulnerable Mongoose versions.
  • Track remediation evidence with version, build, and deployment records.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
3

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

description · low confidence lookup

Execution behavior lookup

The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2018-20352 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
2Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/an/an/aListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.