CVE-2017-1083 : Security Advisory and Response

In previous versions of FreeBSD, specifically before 11.2-RELEASE, a stack guard-page feature exists but is deactivated by default, posing a risk of stack overflow due to poorly coded processes.

Understanding CVE-2017-1083

This CVE highlights a vulnerability in FreeBSD versions before 11.2-RELEASE that could lead to a stack overflow.

What is CVE-2017-1083?

In FreeBSD versions prior to 11.2-RELEASE, the stack guard-page feature is present but disabled by default, potentially allowing a badly coded process to trigger a stack overflow.

The Impact of CVE-2017-1083

The vulnerability could be exploited by malicious actors to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service by crashing the system.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-1083

This section provides more in-depth technical information about the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The stack guard-page in FreeBSD before 11.2-RELEASE is inactive by default, enabling the possibility of a stack overflow if a poorly written process is executed.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: FreeBSD
Affected Versions: Before 11.2-RELEASE

Exploitation Mechanism

The risk arises from the stack guard-page feature being disabled by default, allowing a badly coded process to trigger a stack overflow.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-1083 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Enable stack guard-page protection in FreeBSD configurations to mitigate the risk of stack overflow.
Regularly monitor system logs for any unusual behavior that could indicate exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement secure coding practices to reduce the likelihood of vulnerabilities in software.
Keep FreeBSD systems up to date with the latest security patches and updates.
Conduct regular security audits and assessments to identify and address potential weaknesses.
Educate developers and system administrators on best practices for secure system configuration.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that FreeBSD systems are updated to at least version 11.2-RELEASE or newer to address the vulnerability and activate the stack guard-page feature.