CVE-2017-12375 : What You Need to Know

A vulnerability has been discovered in versions of the ClamAV AntiVirus software prior to 0.99.2, allowing an unauthenticated attacker to trigger a denial of service (DoS) attack.

Understanding CVE-2017-12375

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in ClamAV AntiVirus software versions 0.99.2 and earlier that could lead to a DoS attack.

What is CVE-2017-12375?

The vulnerability in ClamAV AntiVirus software versions 0.99.2 and prior allows an unauthenticated attacker to exploit insufficient input validation mechanisms during specific mail parsing functions, potentially leading to a DoS attack.

The Impact of CVE-2017-12375

The vulnerability could result in a denial of service (DoS) condition on the targeted device, caused by a buffer overflow when processing a malicious email.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-12375

This section provides detailed technical information about the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability exists in ClamAV AntiVirus software versions 0.99.2 and earlier.
It stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms during certain mail parsing functions.
Specifically, the rfc2047 function in mbox.c is vulnerable.
An attacker can exploit this by sending a carefully crafted email to trigger a buffer overflow.

Affected Systems and Versions

ClamAV AntiVirus software versions 0.99.2 and prior are affected.

Exploitation Mechanism

An attacker can exploit the vulnerability by sending a malicious email that triggers a buffer overflow during ClamAV scanning.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-12375 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update ClamAV AntiVirus software to version 0.99.3 or later.
Implement email filtering to block potentially malicious emails.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update antivirus software and security patches.
Conduct security training to educate users on identifying suspicious emails.

Patching and Updates

Apply the latest security updates and patches provided by ClamAV to address the vulnerability.