CVE-2017-8105 : What You Need to Know

FreeType 2 before 2017-03-24 has a critical vulnerability due to an out-of-bounds write caused by a heap-based buffer overflow in the t1_decoder_parse_charstrings function.

Understanding CVE-2017-8105

This CVE entry highlights a specific vulnerability in FreeType 2 that could lead to a heap-based buffer overflow.

What is CVE-2017-8105?

The occurrence of an out-of-bounds write in FreeType 2 prior to 2017-03-24 is due to a heap-based buffer overflow. This issue is specifically associated with the t1_decoder_parse_charstrings function located in psaux/t1decode.c.

The Impact of CVE-2017-8105

This vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service by crashing the application.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-8105

FreeType 2 before 2017-03-24 is susceptible to a critical heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability is caused by an out-of-bounds write related to the t1_decoder_parse_charstrings function in psaux/t1decode.c.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Versions: All versions prior to 2017-03-24

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a malicious font file and tricking a user or application into processing it.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2017-8105.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update FreeType 2 to a version released after 2017-03-24.
Implement proper input validation mechanisms to prevent malformed font files from being processed.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to patch known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and audits to identify and address potential weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by FreeType to address the vulnerability.