CVE-2018-20197 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

CVE-2018-20197 was published on December 18, 2018, and affects the Freeware Advanced Audio Decoder 2 (FAAD2) version 2.8.8. The vulnerability involves a stack-based buffer underflow in the calculate_gain function, potentially leading to denial of service or other consequences.

Understanding CVE-2018-20197

What is CVE-2018-20197?

The vulnerability in the third instance of the calculate_gain function in FAAD2 2.8.8 can be exploited with a carefully crafted input, causing a stack-based buffer underflow. This mishandling of noise energy levels can result in denial of service or other impacts.

The Impact of CVE-2018-20197

The vulnerability could allow attackers to execute a denial of service attack or potentially trigger other unspecified consequences by exploiting the buffer underflow in FAAD2 2.8.8.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-20197

Vulnerability Description

The stack-based buffer underflow occurs in the calculate_gain function of libfaad/sbr_hfadj.c in FAAD2 2.8.8 due to mishandling of noise energy levels.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Freeware Advanced Audio 2 (FAAD2)
Version: 2.8.8

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by providing a carefully manipulated input to trigger the stack-based buffer underflow.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security updates provided by the vendor.
Monitor vendor advisories for patches and security announcements.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and firmware to the latest versions.
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Install the security update released by FAAD2 to address the stack-based buffer underflow vulnerability.