CVE-2018-1000801 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Okular version 18.08 and earlier contain a Directory Traversal vulnerability that allows attackers to create arbitrary files on the user's workstation. The issue has been fixed in version 18.08.1.

Understanding CVE-2018-1000801

This CVE involves a vulnerability in Okular that could lead to arbitrary file creation on the user's system.

What is CVE-2018-1000801?

The function "unpackDocumentArchive(...)" in "core/document.cpp" of Okular version 18.08 and earlier has a Directory Traversal vulnerability. This flaw could be exploited by an attacker to create malicious files on the victim's machine by tricking them into opening a specially crafted Okular archive.

The Impact of CVE-2018-1000801

The vulnerability in Okular could potentially allow an attacker to compromise the user's system by creating arbitrary files, leading to unauthorized access and potential data loss.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-1000801

Okular version 18.08 and earlier are affected by this vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability lies in the function "unpackDocumentArchive(...)" in "core/document.cpp" of Okular, allowing for Directory Traversal and arbitrary file creation.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Okular
Vendor: N/A
Versions affected: 18.08 and earlier

Exploitation Mechanism

The attack can be executed if the victim opens a specially crafted Okular archive, triggering the vulnerability.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2018-1000801, follow these steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Okular to version 18.08.1 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Avoid opening Okular archives from untrusted or unknown sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and apply security patches promptly.
Educate users about the risks of opening files from untrusted sources.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that Okular is regularly updated to the latest version to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.