CVE-2017-8817 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

An issue was discovered in curl and libcurl prior to version 7.57.0, where the FTP wildcard function can be exploited by remote attackers, potentially leading to a denial of service and other impacts.

Understanding CVE-2017-8817

What is CVE-2017-8817?

The vulnerability in curl and libcurl before 7.57.0 allows remote attackers to trigger an out-of-bounds read, causing application crashes and denial of service. The issue arises when processing a string ending with a '[' character.

The Impact of CVE-2017-8817

The vulnerability can result in a denial of service, out-of-bounds read, and application crashes. The full extent of the impact is unspecified.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-8817

Vulnerability Description

The FTP wildcard function in curl and libcurl before 7.57.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read and application crash) or potentially have other unspecified impacts via a string ending with a '[' character.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: curl and libcurl before 7.57.0
Vendor: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability occurs when processing a string that ends with a '[' character, allowing remote attackers to exploit the FTP wildcard function.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update curl and libcurl to version 7.57.0 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor vendor advisories for patches and security updates.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to the latest versions.
Implement network security measures to detect and prevent exploitation attempts.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by the vendor promptly to address the vulnerability and enhance system security.