CVE-2018-19841 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability in the libwavpack.a library of WavPack versions up to 5.1.0 allows for a denial-of-service attack, leading to an out-of-bounds read and application crash when processing specially crafted WavPack Lossless Audio files.

Understanding CVE-2018-19841

This CVE entry highlights a vulnerability in the WavPack library that could be exploited to crash applications processing malicious audio files.

What is CVE-2018-19841?

The vulnerability lies in the WavpackVerifySingleBlock function in the libwavpack.a library of WavPack versions up to 5.1.0, enabling attackers to trigger a denial-of-service attack by utilizing a specially crafted WavPack Lossless Audio file.

The Impact of CVE-2018-19841

Exploiting this vulnerability can result in an out-of-bounds read and subsequent application crash, potentially disrupting the functionality of systems processing the malicious audio files.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-19841

This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE, including the vulnerability description, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The WavpackVerifySingleBlock function in open_utils.c in libwavpack.a in WavPack through 5.1.0 allows attackers to cause a denial-of-service via a crafted WavPack Lossless Audio file.

Affected Systems and Versions

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

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by using specially crafted WavPack Lossless Audio files, such as those processed by the wvunpack tool, to trigger an out-of-bounds read and application crash.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-19841 involves taking immediate steps and implementing long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update WavPack to a patched version that addresses the vulnerability.
Avoid processing untrusted or unknown WavPack Lossless Audio files.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
Implement file type and content validation mechanisms to detect and block malicious audio files.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all systems running WavPack are updated with the latest patches to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.