CVE-2017-6350 : What You Need to Know

CVE-2017-6350 was published on February 27, 2017, and relates to a vulnerability in Vim versions prior to patch 8.0.0378. The issue arises from a failure to validate values for tree length while reading a corrupted undo file, potentially leading to an integer overflow and subsequent buffer overflows.

Understanding CVE-2017-6350

This section delves into the specifics of the CVE-2017-6350 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2017-6350?

CVE-2017-6350 involves an integer overflow at an unserialize_uep memory allocation site due to the lack of proper validation of tree length values in Vim versions before patch 8.0.0378. This oversight can result in buffer overflows.

The Impact of CVE-2017-6350

The vulnerability poses a risk of buffer overflows, which can potentially be exploited by attackers to execute arbitrary code or crash the application.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-6350

This section provides technical insights into CVE-2017-6350.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Vim versions before patch 8.0.0378 stems from the failure to validate tree length values while reading corrupted undo files, leading to an integer overflow and subsequent buffer overflows.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: Not applicable
Affected Vendor: Not applicable
Affected Versions: All versions of Vim before patch 8.0.0378

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by manipulating a corrupted undo file to trigger an integer overflow, potentially leading to buffer overflows and the execution of malicious code.

Mitigation and Prevention

Learn how to mitigate and prevent the CVE-2017-6350 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the official patch 8.0.0378 or later to address the vulnerability.
Regularly update Vim to the latest version to ensure all security patches are in place.

Long-Term Security Practices

Practice secure coding to prevent similar vulnerabilities in software development.
Conduct regular security audits and code reviews to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security patches and updates for Vim to mitigate the risk of known vulnerabilities.