CVE-2018-17043 : Security Advisory and Response

A problem has been discovered in doc2txt prior to 2014-03-19, involving a heap-based buffer overflow in the function Storage::init in Storage.cpp.

Understanding CVE-2018-17043

This CVE entry highlights a critical vulnerability in the doc2txt software.

What is CVE-2018-17043?

CVE-2018-17043 is a heap-based buffer overflow issue in the Storage::init function of doc2txt, triggered during the parsing process.

The Impact of CVE-2018-17043

The vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code or crash the application, potentially leading to a denial of service (DoS) condition.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-17043

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue stems from a heap-based buffer overflow in the Storage::init function, which is called from parse_doc in parse_doc.cpp.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Versions: All versions prior to 2014-03-19

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is exploited through crafted input that triggers the buffer overflow in the Storage::init function.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-17043 requires immediate actions and long-term security measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable or restrict access to the affected software until a patch is available.
Monitor network traffic for signs of exploitation.
Implement strong input validation mechanisms.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and apply patches promptly.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Check for patches or updates from the software vendor.
Apply the latest version of doc2txt to mitigate the vulnerability.