CVE-2018-14680 : What You Need to Know

A vulnerability in libmspack prior to version 0.7alpha, identified as CVE-2018-14680, allows for the acceptance of empty CHM filenames, potentially leading to security issues.

Understanding CVE-2018-14680

The vulnerability was made public on July 28, 2018.

What is CVE-2018-14680?

An issue in mspack/chmd.c within libmspack before version 0.7alpha allows the software to accept blank CHM filenames, which can pose security risks.

The Impact of CVE-2018-14680

The vulnerability could be exploited by malicious actors to potentially execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (DoS) condition on affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-14680

The technical aspects of the vulnerability are as follows:

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in libmspack allows the acceptance of empty CHM filenames, which can be leveraged by attackers for malicious purposes.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Versions affected: Prior to version 0.7alpha

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting CHM files with empty filenames, potentially leading to the execution of arbitrary code or DoS attacks.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2018-14680, consider the following mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update libmspack to version 0.7alpha or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Implement proper input validation to prevent the acceptance of empty filenames.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor for security advisories and updates related to libmspack.
Conduct security assessments and code reviews to identify and address similar vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by the vendor promptly to ensure the security of the software.