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CVE Record

CVE-2018-20353: An invalid read of 8 bytes due to a use-after-free vulnerability during a "NULL test" in the mg_http_get_pr...

An invalid read of 8 bytes due to a use-after-free vulnerability during a "NULL test" in the mg_http_get_proto_data 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-2018-20353 affects Cesanta Mongoose Embedded Web Server Library 6.13 and earlier. A memory handling bug can crash an application and is described as potentially allowing remote code execution. Business urgency depends on whether exposed products embed this library, especially internet-facing embedded web services.

Executive priority

Treat as high priority where Mongoose 6.13 or earlier is exposed to untrusted network traffic. The potential impact is serious, but urgency should be driven by confirmed embedding, exposure, and vendor remediation availability.

Technical view

The CVE describes an invalid 8-byte read caused by use-after-free during a NULL test in mg_http_get_proto_data in mongoose.c. The stated impacts are denial of service through application crash or remote code execution. The provided sources do not include CVSS, CWE, exploit maturity, or vendor patch details.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely in applications, appliances, firmware, or services that embed Cesanta Mongoose Embedded Web Server Library 6.13 or earlier. The source bundle does not identify specific downstream vendors, products, or CPEs.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation evidence. It includes a fuzzing-related public reference and a CVE statement that the issue may allow crash or remote code execution, but does not provide exploit status or practical reachability conditions.

Researcher notes

Key gaps are CVSS, CWE mapping, affected CPEs, patch reference, and exploit maturity. Validate against source or vendor advisories before asserting downstream product impact. Do not assume all Mongoose deployments are reachable or exploitable without confirming code path exposure.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory software and firmware that embed Mongoose 6.13 or earlier.
  • Check Cesanta or product-vendor guidance for fixed versions or supported mitigations.
  • Prioritize internet-facing embedded web servers for upgrade or replacement review.
  • Restrict network access to affected embedded web services where patching is delayed.
  • Monitor vendors for advisories covering bundled Mongoose library versions.

Validation and detection

  • Search SBOMs and dependency manifests for Mongoose versions at or below 6.13.
  • Ask appliance and firmware vendors whether their products embed affected Mongoose code.
  • Confirm exposed services using the vulnerable library are not internet reachable unnecessarily.
  • Review crash telemetry for unexplained failures in Mongoose-backed HTTP services.
  • Track remediation evidence by product version, firmware build, or vendor advisory.
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

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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-2018-20353 mapping review

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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.