CVE-2017-5845 : What You Need to Know

CVE-2017-5845 was published on February 9, 2017, and affects the gst-plugins-good component in GStreamer versions prior to 1.10.3. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to trigger a denial of service attack by exploiting a specific function in the software.

Understanding CVE-2017-5845

This CVE entry describes a vulnerability in GStreamer that could lead to a denial of service attack.

What is CVE-2017-5845?

The function gst_avi_demux_parse_ncdt in gst/avi/gstavidemux.c in gst-plugins-good in GStreamer versions before 1.10.3 has a vulnerability that can be exploited remotely. This vulnerability leads to a denial of service attack, as it allows an attacker to cause an invalid memory read and crash by utilizing a ncdt sub-tag that extends beyond the boundaries of the surrounding tag.

The Impact of CVE-2017-5845

The vulnerability in GStreamer versions before 1.10.3 can be exploited by remote attackers to trigger a denial of service attack. By manipulating a specific sub-tag, an attacker can cause an invalid memory read, leading to a crash of the system.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-5845

This section provides more technical insights into the CVE-2017-5845 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The gst_avi_demux_parse_ncdt function in gst/avi/gstavidemux.c in gst-plugins-good in GStreamer before 1.10.3 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (invalid memory read and crash) via a ncdt sub-tag that "goes behind" the surrounding tag.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Versions affected: All versions before GStreamer 1.10.3

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited remotely by utilizing a specific sub-tag that extends beyond the boundaries of the surrounding tag, causing an invalid memory read and system crash.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-5845 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update GStreamer to version 1.10.3 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor security advisories for patches and updates related to GStreamer.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software components to the latest versions to address known vulnerabilities.
Implement network security measures to prevent remote exploitation of software vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by GStreamer to fix the vulnerability.
Stay informed about security updates and advisories from GStreamer and related vendors.