CVE-2018-14073 : Security Advisory and Response

A memory leak vulnerability exists in the

sixel_allocator_new

function within the

allocator.c

file of libsixel version 1.8.1.

Understanding CVE-2018-14073

This CVE involves a memory leak issue in a specific function of libsixel version 1.8.1.

What is CVE-2018-14073?

CVE-2018-14073 is a vulnerability in the

sixel_allocator_new

function in the

allocator.c

file of libsixel version 1.8.1.

The Impact of CVE-2018-14073

The vulnerability could lead to a memory leak, potentially causing system instability or denial of service.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-14073

This section provides technical details about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The memory leak occurs in the

sixel_allocator_new

function within the

allocator.c

file of libsixel version 1.8.1.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Version: 1.8.1
Systems: Any system using libsixel version 1.8.1

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by triggering the

sixel_allocator_new

function in a way that causes excessive memory allocation without proper deallocation.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-14073 requires specific actions to mitigate the risk.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update to a patched version of libsixel that addresses the memory leak.
Monitor system resources for any signs of excessive memory consumption.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security audits to identify and address memory-related vulnerabilities.
Implement secure coding practices to prevent memory leaks in software development.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by the vendor to fix the memory leak issue in libsixel version 1.8.1.