CVE-2018-17294 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

In versions of Liblouis before 3.7, a vulnerability exists in the matchCurrentInput function in lou_translateString.c, allowing attackers to cause a denial of service by crafting a specific input file with translation dictionaries.

Understanding CVE-2018-17294

What is CVE-2018-17294?

The vulnerability in Liblouis prior to version 3.7 arises from a lack of input string length verification in the matchCurrentInput function, enabling malicious actors to trigger a denial of service attack.

The Impact of CVE-2018-17294

The vulnerability allows attackers to crash the application through an out-of-bounds read, leading to a denial of service.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-17294

Vulnerability Description

The matchCurrentInput function in lou_translateString.c of Liblouis before 3.7 does not validate the length of the input string, enabling a denial of service attack.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: N/A
Vendor: N/A
Versions affected: N/A

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by creating a specific input file with translation dictionaries, causing the application to crash due to an out-of-bounds read.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Liblouis to version 3.7 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor for any unusual application crashes that could indicate exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to the latest versions to address known vulnerabilities.
Implement input validation mechanisms to prevent similar denial of service attacks.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by the vendor to fix the vulnerability and enhance application security.