CVE-2017-13846 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2017-13846 affecting Apple products running macOS versions older than 10.13.1. Find out how remote attackers can exploit the PCRE vulnerability to cause denial of service.
Apple products running macOS versions older than 10.13.1 are vulnerable to a denial of service issue related to the third-party product PCRE.
Understanding CVE-2017-13846
Certain Apple products have a vulnerability that could be exploited by remote attackers to cause a denial of service.
What is CVE-2017-13846?
CVE-2017-13846 is a vulnerability found in macOS versions older than 10.13.1 related to the PCRE product, allowing remote attackers to crash applications.
The Impact of CVE-2017-13846
- Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability to cause a denial of service, potentially leading to application crashes and other unspecified consequences.
Technical Details of CVE-2017-13846
Apple products running macOS versions older than 10.13.1 are affected by this vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
- The issue is related to the third-party product PCRE, specifically versions older than 8.40.
Affected Systems and Versions
- macOS versions older than 10.13.1
Exploitation Mechanism
- Remote attackers can exploit older versions of PCRE to cause a denial of service, such as crashing the affected application.
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take:
- Update macOS to version 10.13.1 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
- Regularly check for security updates from Apple.
Long-Term Security Practices:
- Implement network security measures to prevent remote attacks.
- Regularly monitor and audit system logs for any suspicious activities.
- Educate users on safe browsing habits and the importance of software updates.
- Employ intrusion detection systems to detect and respond to potential attacks.
- Consider using additional security tools such as firewalls and antivirus software.
- Stay informed about the latest security threats and vulnerabilities.
- Report any security concerns promptly to the relevant authorities.
- Apply security best practices recommended by Apple.
Patching and Updates
- Apple has released macOS version 10.13.1 to address this vulnerability. Ensure all systems are updated to the latest version to prevent exploitation.