CVE-2018-14470 : What You Need to Know

A buffer over-read vulnerability was discovered in the Babel parser used in versions of tcpdump prior to 4.9.3. This vulnerability exists in the babel_print_v2() function within the print-babel.c file.

Understanding CVE-2018-14470

The Babel parser in tcpdump before 4.9.3 has a buffer over-read in print-babel.c:babel_print_v2().

What is CVE-2018-14470?

The CVE-2018-14470 vulnerability is a buffer over-read issue found in the Babel parser used in tcpdump versions prior to 4.9.3.

The Impact of CVE-2018-14470

This vulnerability could allow an attacker to read beyond the allocated memory, potentially leading to information disclosure or a denial of service.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-14470

The technical details of the CVE-2018-14470 vulnerability are as follows:

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability is a buffer over-read in the babel_print_v2() function within the print-babel.c file of tcpdump versions before 4.9.3.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: N/A
Vendor: N/A
Versions Affected: All versions of tcpdump prior to 4.9.3

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by crafting a malicious input that triggers the buffer over-read in the babel_print_v2() function.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the CVE-2018-14470 vulnerability, follow these steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update tcpdump to version 4.9.3 or later to eliminate the vulnerability.
Monitor official sources for security advisories and patches.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and systems to the latest versions.
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by the tcpdump project to address the vulnerability.