CVE-2018-17293 : Security Advisory and Response
Learn about CVE-2018-17293, a vulnerability in WAVM allowing denial of service attacks. Find out how to mitigate the risk and prevent exploitation.
A vulnerability was found in WAVM, with a version prior to 2018-09-16. The run function within the Programs/wavm/wavm.cpp file fails to verify whether there is Emscripten memory available to save the command-line arguments provided by the main function of the input WebAssembly file. This flaw enables attackers to trigger a denial of service attack (application crash due to NULL pointer dereference) or potentially exploit other unspecified vulnerabilities by creating specific WebAssembly files.
Understanding CVE-2018-17293
This CVE identifies a vulnerability in WAVM that could lead to denial of service attacks or other potential exploits.
What is CVE-2018-17293?
CVE-2018-17293 is a security vulnerability in WAVM that allows attackers to cause a denial of service or potentially exploit other vulnerabilities by crafting specific WebAssembly files.
The Impact of CVE-2018-17293
The vulnerability in WAVM could result in a denial of service attack, leading to application crashes due to NULL pointer dereference. Attackers could potentially exploit other unspecified vulnerabilities by leveraging this flaw.
Technical Details of CVE-2018-17293
This section provides technical details about the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The run function in Programs/wavm/wavm.cpp does not check for Emscripten memory to store command-line arguments passed by the input WebAssembly file's main function, enabling attackers to trigger denial of service attacks or other impacts.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Affected Version: Prior to 2018-09-16
- Systems: WAVM
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by creating specific WebAssembly files that trigger the run function without proper memory verification.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protect your systems from CVE-2018-17293 with the following steps:
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update WAVM to the latest version that includes a patch for this vulnerability.
- Monitor for any unusual activity that could indicate exploitation of this vulnerability.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update and patch software to prevent known vulnerabilities.
- Implement strong access controls and monitoring to detect and respond to potential attacks.
Patching and Updates
Ensure timely installation of security patches and updates for WAVM to mitigate the risk of exploitation.