CVE-2018-18586 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

CVE-2018-18586 was published on October 23, 2018, and affects the chmextract sample program distributed with libmspack before version 0.8alpha. The vulnerability in the chmextract.c file can lead to Directory Traversal due to the lack of safeguards against absolute or relative pathnames in CHM files.

Understanding CVE-2018-18586

This CVE entry highlights a security issue in the chmextract sample program.

What is CVE-2018-18586?

The vulnerability arises from the absence of protections against absolute or relative pathnames in CHM files within the chmextract.c file.

The Impact of CVE-2018-18586

The vulnerability can potentially lead to Directory Traversal, allowing attackers to access files outside the intended directory structure.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-18586

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The chmextract.c file in the chmextract sample program lacks safeguards against absolute or relative pathnames in CHM files, potentially enabling Directory Traversal.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Versions affected: Before libmspack version 0.8alpha

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by manipulating pathnames in CHM files to access unauthorized directories.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protective measures and actions to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2018-18586.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update libmspack to version 0.8alpha or newer to address the vulnerability.
Avoid opening CHM files from untrusted or unknown sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to the latest versions.
Implement file access controls and restrictions to prevent unauthorized directory access.

Patching and Updates

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