CVE-2018-5766 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

CVE-2018-5766 was published on January 18, 2018, and affects Libav version 12.2 and earlier. The vulnerability in the av_packet_ref function could allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service through a specially crafted avi file.

Understanding CVE-2018-5766

This CVE entry describes a vulnerability in Libav that could lead to a denial of service attack.

What is CVE-2018-5766?

The av_packet_ref function in libavcodec/avpacket.c of Libav version 12.2 and prior contains a faulty memcpy. This vulnerability could be exploited by remote attackers to trigger a denial of service (segmentation fault) by using a specially crafted avi file.

The Impact of CVE-2018-5766

The vulnerability could allow remote attackers to exploit the faulty memcpy function in Libav, leading to a denial of service (DoS) condition, causing a segmentation fault.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-5766

This section provides technical details about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

In Libav through 12.2, there is an invalid memcpy in the av_packet_ref function of libavcodec/avpacket.c. Remote attackers could leverage this vulnerability to cause a denial of service (segmentation fault) via a crafted avi file.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: N/A
Vendor: N/A
Versions: Libav version 12.2 and earlier

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by remote attackers using a specially crafted avi file to trigger a denial of service (DoS) by causing a segmentation fault.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-5766 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the security update provided by Libav to patch the vulnerability.
Avoid opening or accessing suspicious avi files from untrusted sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to the latest versions to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Implement network security measures to detect and block malicious traffic.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all systems running Libav are updated with the latest security patches to mitigate the risk of exploitation.