CVE-2017-2633 : Security Advisory and Response

QEMU version 1.7.2 and earlier has a vulnerability in the VNC display driver that allows unauthorized memory access, potentially leading to a QEMU process crash.

Understanding CVE-2017-2633

This CVE involves a memory access issue in Quick Emulator (QEMU) before version 1.7.2, specifically in the VNC display driver.

What is CVE-2017-2633?

An out-of-bounds memory access vulnerability in QEMU's VNC display driver
Exploitable by a user within a guest environment to crash the QEMU process

The Impact of CVE-2017-2633

CVSS Base Score: 5.4 (Medium)
Attack Vector: Adjacent Network
Attack Complexity: Low
Privileges Required: Low
Integrity Impact: Low
Availability Impact: Low
Scope: Changed
This vulnerability could be exploited to crash the QEMU process, affecting system availability.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-2633

QEMU version 1.7.2 and earlier are affected by this vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

Unauthorized memory access in the VNC display driver
Occurs during the update of the VNC display surface
Specifically in the 'vnc_refresh_server_surface' function

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: QEMU
Vendor: QEMU
Affected Version: 1.7.2

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploitation involves updating the VNC display surface, leading to unauthorized memory access

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate action and long-term security practices are crucial to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2017-2633.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches provided by the vendor
Monitor vendor advisories for updates
Restrict network access to vulnerable systems

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to prevent vulnerabilities
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks

Patching and Updates

Refer to vendor advisories for patches and updates to address CVE-2017-2633