CVE-2018-3841 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Pixar Renderman IT Display Service 21.6 (0x69) by Talos has a vulnerability that allows a denial-of-service attack through unvalidated network packet parsing.

Understanding CVE-2018-3841

This CVE involves a vulnerability in Pixar Renderman IT Display Service 21.6 (0x69) that can be exploited for a denial-of-service attack.

What is CVE-2018-3841?

The vulnerability in Pixar Renderman IT Display Service 21.6 (0x69) allows attackers to launch a denial-of-service attack by manipulating unvalidated network packets.

The Impact of CVE-2018-3841

CVSS Base Score: 5.3 (Medium)
Attack Vector: Network
Attack Complexity: Low
Availability Impact: Low
Privileges Required: None
Scope: Unchanged
This vulnerability can lead to a null pointer dereference, affecting the availability of the service.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-3841

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from parsing network packets without proper validation, leading to a null pointer dereference.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: Pixar Renderman
Vendor: Talos
Affected Version: Renderman 12.6

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit this flaw, an attacker needs to open the IT application, which listens for a connection on port 4001, allowing malicious entities to launch an attack.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-3841 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-supplied patches promptly.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity.
Restrict network access to critical systems.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to address vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for security updates and patches from Talos to mitigate the vulnerability.