CVE-2018-20106 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

The yast2-printer utility, up to and including version 4.0.2, has a vulnerability in handling SMB printer settings, potentially allowing code execution with root privileges.

Understanding CVE-2018-20106

This CVE involves a security issue in the yast2-printer utility that could lead to privilege escalation.

What is CVE-2018-20106?

The vulnerability in yast2-printer up to version 4.0.2 allows attackers to execute code with root privileges by providing a password with specific characters.

The Impact of CVE-2018-20106

Exploiting this vulnerability requires tricking the root user into entering a password with certain characters, potentially leading to unauthorized code execution.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-20106

This section provides more in-depth technical information about the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from improper handling of certain characters in passwords within the yast2-printer utility, enabling attackers to execute code as root.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: yast2-printer
Vendor: SUSE
Versions Affected: <= 4.0.2

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: Low
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: High
User Interaction: Required
Scope: Unchanged
CVSS Base Score: 6.5 (Medium)

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-20106 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update yast2-printer to a patched version.
Avoid entering passwords with specific characters in the yast2-printer utility.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software to address security vulnerabilities.
Educate users on safe password practices to prevent exploitation.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by the vendor to fix the vulnerability.