CVE-2017-12959 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies
Learn about CVE-2017-12959 affecting GNU PSPP's libpspp library before version 1.0.1. Discover the impact, technical details, and mitigation steps for this remote denial of service vulnerability.
CVE-2017-12959 was published on August 18, 2017, and affects the libpspp library in GNU PSPP before version 1.0.1. The vulnerability allows for a detectable claim abort, potentially leading to a remote denial of service attack.
Understanding CVE-2017-12959
This CVE identifies a specific vulnerability in the libpspp library in GNU PSPP.
What is CVE-2017-12959?
The function dict_add_mrset() in the data/dictionary.c file of the libpspp library in GNU PSPP before version 1.0.1 contains a detectable claim abort vulnerability. Exploiting this vulnerability could result in a remote denial of service attack.
The Impact of CVE-2017-12959
The vulnerability in CVE-2017-12959 could lead to a remote denial of service attack, affecting the availability of the system.
Technical Details of CVE-2017-12959
This section provides more technical insights into the CVE.
Vulnerability Description
There is a reachable assertion abort in the function dict_add_mrset() in data/dictionary.c of the libpspp library in GNU PSPP before 1.0.1 that will lead to a remote denial of service attack.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: n/a
- Vendor: n/a
- Versions affected: n/a
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability can be exploited by triggering the detectable claim abort in the dict_add_mrset() function, leading to a denial of service attack.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2017-12959 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update GNU PSPP to version 1.0.1 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
- Monitor for any unusual activity that could indicate a denial of service attack.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update software and libraries to patch known vulnerabilities.
- Implement network security measures to detect and prevent potential attacks.
Patching and Updates
Ensure that all software components, including libraries like libpspp, are regularly updated to the latest versions to address security vulnerabilities.