CVE-2018-16845 : What You Need to Know

A security flaw has been discovered in versions 1.15.6 and 1.14.1 of nginx, potentially allowing an attacker to cause various issues. This vulnerability affects the ngx_http_mp4_module.

Understanding CVE-2018-16845

This CVE involves a vulnerability in nginx versions 1.15.6 and 1.14.1 that could be exploited by an attacker to cause specific issues.

What is CVE-2018-16845?

The vulnerability exists in the ngx_http_mp4_module of nginx, allowing an attacker to trigger various problems by using a specially crafted mp4 file.

The Impact of CVE-2018-16845

Attack Complexity: Low
Attack Vector: Network
Availability Impact: High
Base Score: 8.2 (High)
Confidentiality Impact: Low
Integrity Impact: None
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Scope: Unchanged

Technical Details of CVE-2018-16845

This section provides detailed technical information about the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in nginx versions 1.15.6 and 1.14.1 allows an attacker to cause an infinite loop, crash a worker process, or disclose worker process memory using a specially crafted mp4 file.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: nginx
Vendor: [UNKNOWN]
Versions: 1.15.6, 1.14.1

Exploitation Mechanism

The attack can only be executed if nginx is built with the ngx_http_mp4_module and the .mp4 directive is used in the configuration file.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-16845 is crucial to maintaining security.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update nginx to a non-vulnerable version.
Disable the ngx_http_mp4_module if not required.
Monitor for any unusual activities on the network.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to prevent vulnerabilities.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.
Conduct security audits and penetration testing regularly.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all security patches and updates related to CVE-2018-16845 are applied promptly.