CVE-2018-18751 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

CVE-2018-18751 was published on October 28, 2018, and affects GNU gettext version 0.19.8. The vulnerability involves a double free memory issue in specific functions, leading to potential security risks.

Understanding CVE-2018-18751

What is CVE-2018-18751?

CVE-2018-18751 is a vulnerability in GNU gettext version 0.19.8 that allows for memory to be freed twice in certain functions, potentially leading to memory corruption and exploitation.

The Impact of CVE-2018-18751

The vulnerability can be exploited by attackers to execute arbitrary code, crash applications, or potentially gain unauthorized access to systems where affected versions of GNU gettext are in use.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-18751

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from a double free memory error in the default_add_message function within read-catalog.c, triggered by an incorrect memory freeing in the po_gram_parse function in po-gram-gen.y.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: GNU gettext
Version: 0.19.8

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting specific inputs to trigger the double free memory condition, potentially leading to a denial of service or arbitrary code execution.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update GNU gettext to a patched version that addresses the double free memory vulnerability.
Monitor security advisories from vendors for patches and updates related to CVE-2018-18751.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and code reviews to identify and address memory-related issues.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by the software vendor to fix the double free memory vulnerability in GNU gettext version 0.19.8.