CVE-2018-1324 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies
Learn about CVE-2018-1324, a denial of service vulnerability in Apache Commons Compress versions 1.11 to 1.15. Find out the impact, affected systems, exploitation mechanism, and mitigation steps.
CVE-2018-1324, published on March 16, 2018, addresses a denial of service vulnerability in Apache Commons Compress versions 1.11 to 1.15.
Understanding CVE-2018-1324
This CVE identifies a specific issue in Apache Commons Compress that can lead to a denial of service attack.
What is CVE-2018-1324?
Versions 1.11 to 1.15 of Apache Commons Compress are susceptible to an infinite loop triggered by a maliciously crafted ZIP archive. The problem arises when the extra field parser used by ZipFile and ZipArchiveInputStream classes encounters the compromised archive, potentially causing a denial of service.
The Impact of CVE-2018-1324
The vulnerability allows attackers to exploit the extra field parser in Apache Commons Compress, leading to a denial of service risk for services utilizing the affected zip package.
Technical Details of CVE-2018-1324
Apache Commons Compress vulnerability details and affected systems.
Vulnerability Description
A specially crafted ZIP archive can trigger an infinite loop in Apache Commons Compress' extra field parser, affecting versions 1.11 to 1.15. This loop can be exploited to launch denial of service attacks against services using the Compress zip package.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: Apache Commons Compress
- Vendor: Apache Software Foundation
- Versions: 1.11 to 1.15
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability is exploited by using a specifically designed ZIP archive to cause the extra field parser in Apache Commons Compress to enter an infinite loop, potentially leading to a denial of service attack.
Mitigation and Prevention
Steps to mitigate and prevent the CVE-2018-1324 vulnerability.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update Apache Commons Compress to a non-vulnerable version beyond 1.15.
- Implement network-level protections to filter out potentially malicious ZIP archives.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly monitor and apply security patches for all software components.
- Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities proactively.
Patching and Updates
- Stay informed about security alerts and updates from Apache Software Foundation.
- Apply patches promptly to ensure the security of Apache Commons Compress.