CVE-2018-18701 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability was found in cp-demangle.c which is a part of GNU libiberty and distributed in GNU Binutils 2.31. Remote attackers could exploit this vulnerability to trigger a denial-of-service condition by using an ELF file.

Understanding CVE-2018-18701

This CVE entry describes a stack consumption vulnerability in GNU libiberty, affecting GNU Binutils 2.31.

What is CVE-2018-18701?

The vulnerability in cp-demangle.c allows for infinite recursion in specific functions, leading to a denial-of-service risk when processing ELF files.

The Impact of CVE-2018-18701

Attackers can exploit the vulnerability to cause a denial-of-service condition by utilizing a crafted ELF file.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-18701

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The issue originates from infinite recursion in the functions next_is_type_qual() and cplus_demangle_type() within cp-demangle.c.

Affected Systems and Versions

GNU libiberty distributed in GNU Binutils 2.31

Exploitation Mechanism

Remote attackers can exploit the vulnerability by using a malicious ELF file, as demonstrated by nm.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-18701 involves immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor patches promptly to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor for any unusual activities related to ELF file processing.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Implement strict file validation mechanisms to detect and block malicious ELF files.
Conduct security assessments to identify and address potential risks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and updates from relevant vendors to apply patches effectively.