CVE-2017-8816 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

CVE-2017-8816 was published on November 29, 2017, and affects curl and libcurl versions before 7.57.0. The vulnerability lies in the NTLM authentication feature, potentially leading to a denial of service and other impacts.

Understanding CVE-2017-8816

This CVE entry highlights a security issue in curl and libcurl versions prior to 7.57.0, specifically on 32-bit platforms.

What is CVE-2017-8816?

The vulnerability in the NTLM authentication feature of curl and libcurl versions before 7.57.0 can be exploited by attackers to cause a denial of service. This can result in an integer overflow, leading to a buffer overflow and potential application crashes. Attackers could also manipulate user and password fields to trigger unspecified impacts.

The Impact of CVE-2017-8816

The exploitation of this vulnerability can have the following consequences:

Denial of service due to integer overflow and buffer overflow
Application crashes
Potential unspecified impacts by manipulating user and password fields

Technical Details of CVE-2017-8816

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in curl and libcurl versions before 7.57.0 allows attackers to exploit the NTLM authentication feature on 32-bit platforms, leading to a denial of service and potential buffer overflow.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: curl and libcurl before 7.57.0
Vendor: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by manipulating user and password fields to contain long inputs, triggering the integer overflow and subsequent buffer overflow.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2017-8816, consider the following mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update curl and libcurl to version 7.57.0 or newer
Monitor for any unusual activities related to NTLM authentication

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to the latest versions
Implement strong password policies and user input validation

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by the software vendor
Stay informed about security advisories and updates from relevant sources