CVE-2018-12886 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

In GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) versions 4.1 through 8, a vulnerability exists that allows attackers to bypass stack protection mechanisms on ARM targets.

Understanding CVE-2018-12886

What is CVE-2018-12886?

This vulnerability in GCC versions 4.1 through 8 exposes the stack protector guard address under specific conditions, enabling attackers to manipulate the stack canary value and evade stack overflow protection.

The Impact of CVE-2018-12886

The vulnerability allows attackers to bypass stack protection mechanisms like -fstack-protector, -fstack-protector-all, -fstack-protector-strong, and -fstack-protector-explicit, increasing the risk of successful stack overflow attacks.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-12886

Vulnerability Description

Functions stack_protect_prologue and stack_protect_epilogue in GCC generate instruction sequences that leak the stack protector guard address on ARM targets.

Affected Systems and Versions

GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) versions 4.1 through 8 are affected.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can manipulate the stack canary value to bypass stack protection mechanisms.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update GCC to a patched version that addresses the vulnerability.
Implement additional security measures to mitigate stack overflow risks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and apply security patches.
Employ secure coding practices to prevent and detect stack overflow vulnerabilities.
Monitor and analyze stack-related behaviors for suspicious activities.

Patching and Updates

Check for updates from GCC and apply patches promptly to secure systems.