CVE-2017-17670 : What You Need to Know

Vulnerability in VLC media player through version 2.2.8 related to type conversion in the MP4 demux module.

Understanding CVE-2017-17670

VLC media player vulnerability impacting version 2.2.8 with potential for an invalid free operation.

What is CVE-2017-17670?

The vulnerability in VLC media player version 2.2.8 is due to a type conversion issue in the MP4 demux module, leading to an invalid free operation.

The Impact of CVE-2017-17670

The vulnerability can allow an attacker to trigger an invalid free operation, potentially leading to a denial of service or arbitrary code execution.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-17670

Details of the technical aspects of the CVE-2017-17670 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability is located in the MP4 demux module of VLC media player version 2.2.8, where a type conversion issue can occur, resulting in an invalid free operation.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: VLC media player
Vendor: VideoLAN
Versions affected: 2.2.8

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by manipulating the type of a box within the MP4 demux module, causing it to change between a read operation and a subsequent free operation.

Mitigation and Prevention

Ways to mitigate and prevent the CVE-2017-17670 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update VLC media player to a patched version.
Avoid opening untrusted MP4 files.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software to the latest versions.
Implement network security measures to detect and block malicious activities.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by VideoLAN to address the vulnerability.