CVE-2018-11381 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A crafted binary file can exploit the string_scan_range() function in radare2 2.5.0, causing a denial of service by triggering a heap-based out-of-bounds read and crashing the application.

Understanding CVE-2018-11381

The CVE-2018-11381 vulnerability in radare2 2.5.0 allows remote attackers to execute a denial of service attack through a specific crafted binary file.

What is CVE-2018-11381?

The CVE-2018-11381 vulnerability involves the string_scan_range() function in radare2 2.5.0, which can be manipulated by attackers to trigger a heap-based out-of-bounds read, leading to a crash of the application.

The Impact of CVE-2018-11381

This vulnerability can be exploited by remote attackers to cause a denial of service (DoS) by crashing the application through a specially crafted binary file.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-11381

The technical details of the CVE-2018-11381 vulnerability in radare2 2.5.0 are as follows:

Vulnerability Description

Vulnerability Type: Denial of Service (DoS)
Vulnerable Function: string_scan_range()
Affected Version: 2.5.0

Affected Systems and Versions

Systems: radare2 2.5.0
Versions: 2.5.0

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exploit the string_scan_range() function by using a crafted binary file to trigger a heap-based out-of-bounds read, resulting in a crash of the application.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address the CVE-2018-11381 vulnerability, consider the following mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update radare2 to a non-vulnerable version.
Avoid opening untrusted binary files.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and apply security patches.
Implement file input validation to prevent malicious binary file execution.

Patching and Updates

Apply the patch provided by radare2 to fix the vulnerability and prevent exploitation.