CVE-2018-14468 : Security Advisory and Response

A buffer over-read issue in the FRF.16 parser of tcpdump versions prior to 4.9.3 can lead to vulnerabilities. Learn about the impact, technical details, and mitigation steps.

Understanding CVE-2018-14468

This CVE involves a buffer over-read vulnerability in tcpdump versions before 4.9.3, specifically in the print-fr.c:mfr_print() function.

What is CVE-2018-14468?

The FRF.16 parser in tcpdump before version 4.9.3 has a buffer over-read vulnerability in the print-fr.c:mfr_print() function.

The Impact of CVE-2018-14468

This vulnerability can potentially be exploited by attackers to read sensitive information from the system's memory, leading to a security breach.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-14468

This section provides more in-depth technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The FRF.16 parser in tcpdump before 4.9.3 has a buffer over-read in the print-fr.c:mfr_print() function.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected systems: Versions of tcpdump prior to 4.9.3
Affected versions: All versions before 4.9.3

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious network packets to trigger the buffer over-read in the print-fr.c:mfr_print() function.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2018-14468 by following these mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update tcpdump to version 4.9.3 or later to patch the vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity that could indicate exploitation of the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update all software and applications to the latest versions to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches promptly as soon as they are released by the software vendor to address known vulnerabilities.