CVE-2017-16650 : What You Need to Know

A crafted USB device can potentially cause a denial of service (DoS) or other unspecified impact by exploiting a divide-by-zero error in the qmi_wwan_bind function found in the Linux kernel's drivers/net/usb/qmi_wwan.c. This vulnerability is present in kernel versions up to 4.13.11 and can be exploited by local users.

Understanding CVE-2017-16650

This CVE entry describes a vulnerability in the Linux kernel that can be exploited by a crafted USB device to cause a denial of service or other impacts.

What is CVE-2017-16650?

The vulnerability in the qmi_wwan_bind function in the Linux kernel allows local users to trigger a divide-by-zero error and potentially crash the system or cause other unspecified impacts using a specially crafted USB device.

The Impact of CVE-2017-16650

The vulnerability can lead to a denial of service (DoS) condition or other unspecified impacts on affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-16650

This section provides more technical insights into the CVE-2017-16650 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The qmi_wwan_bind function in drivers/net/usb/qmi_wwan.c in the Linux kernel through 4.13.11 allows local users to cause a denial of service (divide-by-zero error and system crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted USB device.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects Linux kernel versions up to 4.13.11.

Exploitation Mechanism

Local users can exploit this vulnerability by using a specially crafted USB device to trigger a divide-by-zero error in the qmi_wwan_bind function.

Mitigation and Prevention

Mitigation strategies and preventive measures for CVE-2017-16650.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches provided by the Linux kernel maintainers to address the vulnerability.
Monitor vendor advisories and security sources for updates and patches.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update the Linux kernel to the latest stable version to ensure all security patches are applied.
Implement strict USB device usage policies to prevent the connection of untrusted or unknown devices.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by the Linux kernel community.