CVE-2017-5839 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

CVE-2017-5839 was published on February 9, 2017, and affects GStreamer versions prior to 1.10.3. The vulnerability lies in the gst_riff_create_audio_caps function within gst-plugins-base, allowing remote attackers to trigger a denial of service attack through nested WAVEFORMATEX vectors, resulting in a stack overflow and crash.

Understanding CVE-2017-5839

This section provides insights into the nature and impact of the CVE-2017-5839 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2017-5839?

The vulnerability in the gst_riff_create_audio_caps function in GStreamer versions prior to 1.10.3 allows remote attackers to exploit nested WAVEFORMATEX vectors, leading to a denial of service attack due to a stack overflow and subsequent crash.

The Impact of CVE-2017-5839

The vulnerability enables remote attackers to initiate a denial of service attack by exploiting nested WAVEFORMATEX vectors, resulting in a stack overflow and subsequent crash.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-5839

This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE-2017-5839 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The gst_riff_create_audio_caps function in gst-plugins-base in GStreamer versions before 1.10.3 lacks proper recursion restrictions, allowing remote attackers to cause a denial of service (stack overflow and crash) via vectors involving nested WAVEFORMATEX.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: n/a
Vendor: n/a
Versions affected: Versions prior to 1.10.3

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is exploited by remote attackers through nested WAVEFORMATEX vectors, triggering a denial of service attack by causing a stack overflow and subsequent crash.

Mitigation and Prevention

Learn how to mitigate and prevent the CVE-2017-5839 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update GStreamer to version 1.10.3 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor vendor advisories and apply patches promptly.

Long-Term Security Practices

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

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by GStreamer promptly to address the vulnerability and enhance system security.