CVE-2018-20453 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability was discovered in the getlong function within the numutils.c file of libdoc prior to 2017-10-23, leading to a heap-based buffer over-read.

Understanding CVE-2018-20453

This CVE identifies a specific vulnerability in the libdoc library that could be exploited by attackers.

What is CVE-2018-20453?

The vulnerability in the getlong function of numutils.c in libdoc before 2017-10-23 allows remote attackers to crash the application by providing a specially crafted file.

The Impact of CVE-2018-20453

The vulnerability can lead to a denial of service (application crash) if exploited by malicious actors.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-20453

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The getlong function in numutils.c in libdoc through 2017-10-23 has a heap-based buffer over-read, enabling attackers to cause a denial of service via a crafted file.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: N/A
Vendor: N/A
Versions: N/A

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited remotely by providing a carefully crafted file to trigger a heap-based buffer over-read.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protective measures to address the CVE-2018-20453 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update libdoc to a version released after 2017-10-23 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Implement file input validation to prevent the execution of malicious files.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor security advisories for updates on vulnerabilities.
Conduct security audits and code reviews to identify and address potential weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by the libdoc library to fix the vulnerability and enhance application security.