CVE-2018-16890 : What You Need to Know
Discover the impact of CVE-2018-16890, a heap buffer out-of-bounds read vulnerability in libcurl versions. Learn about affected systems, exploitation, and mitigation steps.
CVE-2018-16890 is a vulnerability affecting libcurl versions from 7.36.0 to before 7.64.0, discovered on February 6, 2019.
Understanding CVE-2018-16890
This CVE involves a heap buffer out-of-bounds read vulnerability in libcurl.
What is CVE-2018-16890?
The vulnerability arises from incorrect validation of incoming data in the function handling NTLM type-2 messages.
The Impact of CVE-2018-16890
The vulnerability allows a malicious or faulty NTLM server to deceive libcurl, leading to a buffer read out-of-bounds.
Technical Details of CVE-2018-16890
This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the CVE.
Vulnerability Description
The issue is an integer overflow vulnerability in libcurl, allowing for a buffer read out-of-bounds.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: curl
- Vendor: The curl Project
- Versions affected: 7.36.0 to 7.64.0
Exploitation Mechanism
- Attack Complexity: Low
- Attack Vector: Network
- User Interaction: Required
- Scope: Unchanged
- Privileges Required: None
- Confidentiality Impact: Low
- Integrity Impact: None
- Availability Impact: Low
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2018-16890 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update libcurl to a non-vulnerable version.
- Monitor vendor advisories for patches.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update software and libraries.
- Implement network security measures.
- Conduct security audits and assessments.
Patching and Updates
- Apply patches provided by the vendor.
- Follow best practices for secure coding and data validation.