CVE-2018-17236 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

CVE-2018-17236 is a vulnerability in the libmp4v2 2.1.0 library that triggers a SIGABRT signal due to an invalid pointer being passed to the free() function.

Understanding CVE-2018-17236

This CVE entry highlights a critical issue in the libmp4v2 library that can lead to a system crash.

What is CVE-2018-17236?

The vulnerability arises from the improper use of the free() function on an invalid pointer within the MP4Free() function in the mp4property.cpp file.

The Impact of CVE-2018-17236

The exploitation of this vulnerability can result in a SIGABRT signal being generated, potentially causing a denial of service (DoS) condition or system instability.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-17236

This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE entry.

Vulnerability Description

The issue occurs in the libmp4v2 2.1.0 library due to the incorrect invocation of free() on an invalid pointer, leading to a critical system error.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: n/a
Product: n/a
Versions: 2.1.0 (affected)

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting this vulnerability involves triggering the MP4Free() function with a specific input that causes the free() function to be called on an invalid pointer.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-17236 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Monitor vendor and community channels for patches or workarounds.
Consider limiting access to vulnerable systems.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to patched versions.
Conduct security assessments and code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by the library maintainers or consider alternative solutions to mitigate the vulnerability.