CVE-2018-3836 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Leptonica 1.74.4 contains a vulnerability in the gplotMakeOutput function that allows for command injection, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution.

Understanding CVE-2018-3836

Leptonica 1.74.4 vulnerability with high severity impacting confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

What is CVE-2018-3836?

This CVE refers to a command injection vulnerability in Leptonica 1.74.4, where an attacker can execute arbitrary code by manipulating the gplot rootname parameter.

The Impact of CVE-2018-3836

CVSS Base Score: 7 (High Severity)
Attack Vector: Local
Attack Complexity: High
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None
Scope: Unchanged
Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability Impact: High

Technical Details of CVE-2018-3836

Leptonica 1.74.4 vulnerability details and affected systems.

Vulnerability Description

The gplotMakeOutput function in Leptonica 1.74.4 is susceptible to command injection, enabling attackers to run arbitrary code by providing a malicious path as input.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: Leptonica
Vendor: Dan Bloomberg
Affected Version: 1.74.4

Exploitation Mechanism

By manipulating the gplot rootname parameter, an attacker can inject commands to execute arbitrary code, exploiting applications that use this function.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2018-3836.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Leptonica to a patched version that addresses the vulnerability.
Implement input validation to prevent malicious path injections.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to patch known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security audits and code reviews to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by the vendor to fix the command injection vulnerability in Leptonica 1.74.4.