CVE-2018-19840 : What You Need to Know

WavPack versions up to 5.1.0 are vulnerable to a denial-of-service attack due to a flaw in the function WavpackPackInit located in pack_utils.c within the libwavpack.a library. The vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker through a maliciously crafted wav audio file. The issue arises from the mishandling of a zero sample rate in the WavpackSetConfiguration64 process, leading to resource exhaustion caused by an infinite loop.

Understanding CVE-2018-19840

This CVE involves a vulnerability in WavPack versions up to 5.1.0 that can be exploited to cause a denial-of-service attack.

What is CVE-2018-19840?

The function WavpackPackInit in pack_utils.c in libwavpack.a in WavPack through 5.1.0 allows attackers to cause a denial-of-service (resource exhaustion caused by an infinite loop) via a crafted wav audio file because WavpackSetConfiguration64 mishandles a sample rate of zero.

The Impact of CVE-2018-19840

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to launch denial-of-service attacks by causing resource exhaustion through an infinite loop.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-19840

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in the function WavpackPackInit in WavPack versions up to 5.1.0 allows attackers to trigger a denial-of-service attack by exploiting a zero sample rate mishandling in the WavpackSetConfiguration64 process.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: N/A
Vendor: N/A
Versions affected: Up to 5.1.0

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a malicious wav audio file that triggers the flaw in the WavpackPackInit function, leading to resource exhaustion.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-19840 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update WavPack to version 5.1.0 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Be cautious when handling wav audio files from untrusted sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to patch known vulnerabilities.
Implement robust security measures to prevent and detect denial-of-service attacks.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by WavPack promptly to address the vulnerability.