CVE-2017-7875 : What You Need to Know

CVE-2017-7875 pertains to a vulnerability in the wallpaper.c file of feh prior to version 2.18.3. This vulnerability allows an adversary posing as the E17 window manager to trigger an out-of-boundary heap write by sending an IPC message, due to an integer overflow issue leading to buffer overflow and potential double free.

Understanding CVE-2017-7875

What is CVE-2017-7875?

CVE-2017-7875 is a security vulnerability in the feh image viewer application that could be exploited by a malicious actor to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service.

The Impact of CVE-2017-7875

The vulnerability in CVE-2017-7875 could result in an attacker being able to execute arbitrary code or trigger a denial of service by exploiting the integer overflow issue in the wallpaper.c file of feh.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-7875

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in CVE-2017-7875 allows an adversary to perform an out-of-boundary heap write by pretending to be the E17 window manager and sending an IPC message, leading to a buffer overflow and potential double free.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Versions affected: All versions prior to 2.18.3 of feh

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is exploited by an adversary masquerading as the E17 window manager, triggering an out-of-boundary heap write by sending an IPC message due to an integer overflow issue.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update feh to version 2.18.3 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor vendor advisories and security sources for any patches or workarounds.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and applications to the latest versions.
Implement proper input validation and boundary checks in software development.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by the feh project to address the vulnerability in CVE-2017-7875.