CVE-2018-17158 : Security Advisory and Response

An integer overflow vulnerability in FreeBSD versions prior to 11.2-RELEASE-p5 could allow unauthorized remote users to crash the system by sending a malicious NFSv4 request.

Understanding CVE-2018-17158

This CVE involves a kernel integer overflow vulnerability in FreeBSD versions before 11.2-RELEASE-p5, impacting the handling of NFSv4 requests.

What is CVE-2018-17158?

An integer overflow issue in FreeBSD versions prior to 11.2-RELEASE-p5 allows unauthorized remote users to crash the system by exploiting a vulnerability in NFSv4 request processing.

The Impact of CVE-2018-17158

Unauthorized remote users can deliberately crash the system by sending a carefully crafted NFSv4 request
This vulnerability affects systems running FreeBSD versions before 11.2-RELEASE-p5

Technical Details of CVE-2018-17158

This section provides detailed technical information about the CVE-2018-17158 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

An integer overflow vulnerability exists in FreeBSD versions before 11.2-RELEASE-p5
The issue occurs when processing the client address length field in an NFSv4 request

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: FreeBSD
Vendor: FreeBSD
Versions Affected: FreeBSD 11.2 before 11.2-RELEASE-p5

Exploitation Mechanism

Unauthorized remote users with access to the NFS server can crash the system by transmitting a carefully constructed NFSv4 request

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from the CVE-2018-17158 vulnerability with the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the necessary patches provided by FreeBSD to address the vulnerability
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity related to NFSv4 requests

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch your FreeBSD systems to prevent known vulnerabilities
Implement access controls and restrictions to limit unauthorized access to NFS servers

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from FreeBSD and apply patches promptly to secure your systems