CVE-2018-18384 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A buffer overflow vulnerability has been detected in the list.c file of Info-ZIP UnZip 6.0 due to a discrepancy in buffer size within a ZIP archive.

Understanding CVE-2018-18384

This CVE involves a buffer overflow vulnerability in Info-ZIP UnZip 6.0, impacting the list.c file.

What is CVE-2018-18384?

The vulnerability occurs when there is a specific relationship between compressed-size and uncompressed-size values in a ZIP archive, leading to a buffer size mismatch.

The Impact of CVE-2018-18384

The buffer overflow issue in Info-ZIP UnZip 6.0 can potentially allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service by exploiting the vulnerability.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-18384

Info-ZIP UnZip 6.0 is susceptible to a buffer overflow in the list.c file due to incorrect buffer size handling.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from a discrepancy in the expected buffer size, which should be 12 but is incorrectly set to 10, allowing for a buffer overflow.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Info-ZIP UnZip 6.0
Vendor: Info-ZIP
Version: All versions are affected

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a malicious ZIP archive with specific compressed-size and uncompressed-size values to trigger the buffer overflow.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2018-18384, follow these steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by the vendor
Avoid opening ZIP archives from untrusted sources
Monitor vendor advisories for updates

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and apply security patches
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks

Patching and Updates

Update Info-ZIP UnZip to the latest version to mitigate the buffer overflow vulnerability