CVE-2018-14779 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A buffer overflow vulnerability in the Yubico-Piv 1.5.0 smartcard driver has been discovered, allowing malicious data from a smartcard to exploit the driver.

Understanding CVE-2018-14779

This CVE involves a buffer overflow vulnerability in the Yubico-Piv 1.5.0 smartcard driver.

What is CVE-2018-14779?

The vulnerability exists in the

ykpiv_transfer_data()

function within the file lib/ykpiv.c due to inadequate error handling when using

memcpy()

.

The Impact of CVE-2018-14779

The vulnerability can be exploited by malicious data from a smartcard, potentially leading to unauthorized access or system compromise.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-14779

This section provides detailed technical information about the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from the lack of proper error handling in the code, allowing a buffer overflow when insufficient space is available for data copying.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Yubico-Piv 1.5.0
Vendor: Yubico
Version: 1.5.0

Exploitation Mechanism

Malicious data from a smartcard can trigger the vulnerable code segment, leading to a buffer overflow.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protective measures to address the CVE.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Yubico-Piv smartcard driver to a patched version.
Monitor for any unusual activities on the system.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update all software and firmware to prevent vulnerabilities.
Implement strict input validation to mitigate buffer overflow risks.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by Yubico to fix the buffer overflow vulnerability.