CVE-2018-11596 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Espruino before version 1.99 is vulnerable to a denial of service attack due to a Buffer Overflow issue during syntax parsing.

Understanding CVE-2018-11596

What is CVE-2018-11596?

Espruino prior to version 1.99 is prone to a denial of service attack where an attacker can crash the application by exploiting a Buffer Overflow vulnerability during syntax parsing.

The Impact of CVE-2018-11596

This vulnerability allows attackers to crash the application by using a specially crafted input file, leading to a denial of service.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-11596

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from an incorrect check for '\0' in the jsvar.c file, affecting the correct array element.

Affected Systems and Versions

Espruino versions before 1.99

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can trigger a Buffer Overflow by utilizing a specifically crafted input file during the syntax parsing process.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Espruino to version 1.99 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Regularly monitor for security advisories and patches from the vendor.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement secure coding practices to prevent Buffer Overflow vulnerabilities.
Conduct regular security assessments and code reviews to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by Espruino to address security issues.