CVE-2017-16642 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This CVE-2017-16642 article provides insights into a vulnerability in PHP versions before 5.6.32, 7.x before 7.0.25, and 7.1.x before 7.1.11 related to the date extension's timelib_meridian handling of 'front of' and 'back of' directives.

Understanding CVE-2017-16642

This section delves into the details of the CVE-2017-16642 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2017-16642?

CVE-2017-16642 is a vulnerability in PHP versions before 5.6.32, 7.x before 7.0.25, and 7.1.x before 7.1.11. Attackers exploiting this flaw could extract information from the interpreter by providing malicious date strings.

The Impact of CVE-2017-16642

The vulnerability allowed attackers to leak information from the interpreter by manipulating date strings. It was caused by out-of-bounds reads in the php_parse_date function.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-16642

This section provides technical details of the CVE-2017-16642 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stemmed from errors in the date extension's timelib_meridian handling, enabling attackers to extract information from the interpreter.

Affected Systems and Versions

PHP versions before 5.6.32
PHP 7.x before 7.0.25
PHP 7.1.x before 7.1.11

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by providing crafted date strings to trigger out-of-bounds reads in the php_parse_date function.

Mitigation and Prevention

Learn how to mitigate and prevent the CVE-2017-16642 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update PHP to versions 5.6.32, 7.0.25, or 7.1.11 to patch the vulnerability.
Monitor for any suspicious activities related to date string manipulation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update PHP and other software to the latest versions.
Implement input validation mechanisms to prevent malicious inputs.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by PHP to address the vulnerability.