CVE-2019-8588 – CVE-2019-8588 is a null pointer dereference vul... (How to Fix)

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2019-8588?

CVE-2019-8588 has a CVSS score of 7.5 (HIGH). CVE-2019-8588 is a null pointer dereference vulnerability in Apple AirPort Base Station firmware that allows remote attackers to cause denial of service. This affects users of Apple AirPort base stations who haven't updated to patched firmware versions. The vulnerability can be exploited without authentication over the network.

📋 TL;DR

CVE-2019-8588 is a null pointer dereference vulnerability in Apple AirPort Base Station firmware that allows remote attackers to cause denial of service. This affects users of Apple AirPort base stations who haven't updated to patched firmware versions. The vulnerability can be exploited without authentication over the network.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

Apple AirPort Base Station
Apple AirPort Extreme
Apple AirPort Time Capsule

Versions: Firmware versions before 7.8.1 and 7.9.1

Operating Systems: AirPort firmware only

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: All default configurations are vulnerable. The specific affected firmware versions vary by device model.

📦 What is this software?

Airport Base Station Firmware by Apple

View all CVEs affecting Airport Base Station Firmware →

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Complete system crash requiring physical power cycle or factory reset of the AirPort base station, disrupting all network connectivity.

🟠

Likely Case

Temporary denial of service causing network interruption until the device automatically restarts.

🟢

If Mitigated

No impact if firmware is updated to patched versions or if network access controls prevent external exploitation.

🌐 Internet-Facing: HIGH - Remote attackers can exploit this without authentication over the network.

🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM - Internal attackers could also exploit this, but requires network access to the device.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: UNKNOWN

Unauthenticated Exploit: ⚠️ Yes

Complexity: LOW

The vulnerability requires sending specially crafted network packets to the AirPort base station.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: 7.8.1 or 7.9.1 (depending on device model)

Vendor Advisory: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210090

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Open AirPort Utility on macOS or iOS. 2. Select your AirPort base station. 3. Click 'Update' if available. 4. Follow prompts to install firmware update. 5. Device will restart automatically.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Network segmentation

all

Place AirPort base stations on isolated network segments to limit attack surface

Access control lists

all

Implement firewall rules to restrict access to AirPort management interfaces

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Replace vulnerable AirPort devices with supported hardware
Implement strict network segmentation and firewall rules to isolate AirPort devices

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check firmware version in AirPort Utility: Select device → Summary → Firmware Version

Check Version:

Not applicable - use AirPort Utility GUI

Verify Fix Applied:

Confirm firmware version is 7.8.1 or higher in AirPort Utility

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Unexpected device restarts
Crash logs in AirPort Utility

Network Indicators:

Unusual traffic patterns to AirPort management ports
Multiple connection attempts to AirPort services

SIEM Query:

Not applicable - device-specific logging limited

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2019-8588

CVSS v3 Score: 7.5 (HIGH)

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CWE: CWE-476

Published: October 27, 2020

Last Updated: November 21, 2024

🔗 References

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210090 Vendor Advisory
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210091 Vendor Advisory
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210090 Vendor Advisory
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210091 Vendor Advisory

📤 Share & Export

📄 Export Markdown 📋 Export JSON

🔗 Related Vulnerabilities

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