CVE-2017-6435 : What You Need to Know
Learn about CVE-2017-6435, a memory corruption vulnerability in libimobiledevice libplist 1.12, allowing denial of service attacks by exploiting crafted plist files. Find mitigation steps here.
CVE-2017-6435 was published on March 15, 2017, and affects the libimobiledevice libplist version 1.12. The vulnerability allows local users to launch a denial of service attack by exploiting a specific function in the library.
Understanding CVE-2017-6435
This CVE entry details a memory corruption vulnerability in libimobiledevice libplist version 1.12.
What is CVE-2017-6435?
The vulnerability arises from a flaw in the parse_string_node function within the bplist.c file of libimobiledevice libplist version 1.12. By manipulating a crafted plist file, local users can trigger a denial of service attack through memory corruption.
The Impact of CVE-2017-6435
The vulnerability has the potential to affect local users of systems running the vulnerable libimobiledevice libplist version 1.12. If exploited, it can lead to a denial of service due to memory corruption.
Technical Details of CVE-2017-6435
This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the CVE.
Vulnerability Description
The parse_string_node function in bplist.c within libimobiledevice libplist version 1.12 allows local users to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) by utilizing a specially crafted plist file.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Affected Version: libimobiledevice libplist 1.12
- Systems: Local users of systems running the affected version
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability can be exploited by local users through the manipulation of a malicious plist file, triggering memory corruption and leading to a denial of service.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2017-6435 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update libimobiledevice libplist to a non-vulnerable version if available
- Avoid opening untrusted or suspicious plist files
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update software and libraries to patch known vulnerabilities
- Implement proper file validation mechanisms to prevent exploitation
Patching and Updates
Ensure that the libimobiledevice libplist library is regularly updated to the latest secure version to mitigate the risk of exploitation.