CVE-2017-15096 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability was discovered in GlusterFS in versions earlier than 3.10, potentially leading to a denial of service due to a null pointer dereference in the send_brick_req function.

Understanding CVE-2017-15096

This CVE-2017-15096 affects GlusterFS versions prior to 3.10 and was published on October 26, 2017.

What is CVE-2017-15096?

The vulnerability involves a null pointer dereference within the send_brick_req function in glusterfsd/src/gf_attach.c, which could be exploited to cause a denial of service.

The Impact of CVE-2017-15096

The vulnerability could allow an attacker to exploit the null pointer dereference, potentially leading to a denial of service on systems running affected versions of GlusterFS.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-15096

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in GlusterFS versions prior to 3.10 involves a null pointer dereference in the send_brick_req function, which could be abused by attackers.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: GlusterFS
Vendor: Red Hat, Inc.
Versions Affected: Prior to 3.10

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability could be exploited by malicious actors to trigger a denial of service by leveraging the null pointer dereference in the send_brick_req function.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade affected systems to version 3.10 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor vendor sources for patches and updates to address the issue.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Implement network security measures to detect and block potential exploitation attempts.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by Red Hat, Inc. for GlusterFS to address the null pointer dereference vulnerability.