CVE-2018-11516 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability was detected in VideoLAN VLC media player version 3.0.1 that could lead to a denial of service condition and other potential consequences when exploited by remote attackers through a specially crafted .swf file.

Understanding CVE-2018-11516

What is CVE-2018-11516?

The vulnerability exists in the vlc_demux_chained_Delete function within input/demux_chained.c in VideoLAN VLC media player version 3.0.1, allowing remote attackers to trigger a denial of service condition and potential heap corruption.

The Impact of CVE-2018-11516

Exploitation of this vulnerability could result in a denial of service, heap corruption, and application crashes. Additionally, other unspecified consequences may occur due to the attack.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-11516

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the vlc_demux_chained_Delete function of VideoLAN VLC media player version 3.0.1 enables remote attackers to cause denial of service and potential heap corruption by using a specially crafted .swf file.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: VideoLAN VLC media player
Version: 3.0.1

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited remotely by sending a maliciously crafted .swf file to the target system, triggering the denial of service condition and potential heap corruption.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update VideoLAN VLC media player to the latest version to patch the vulnerability.
Avoid opening or accessing untrusted .swf files.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and applications to mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
Implement network security measures to prevent remote exploitation of vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates provided by VideoLAN to address the vulnerability in VLC media player.