CVE-2018-6003 : Security Advisory and Response

CVE-2018-6003 was published on January 22, 2018, and affects GNU Libtasn1 prior to version 4.13. The vulnerability lies in the _asn1_decode_simple_ber function, leading to a denial-of-service (DoS) attack due to unlimited recursion in the BER decoder.

Understanding CVE-2018-6003

This CVE entry highlights a vulnerability in GNU Libtasn1 that can be exploited to exhaust the stack, potentially resulting in a DoS attack.

What is CVE-2018-6003?

The vulnerability in _asn1_decode_simple_ber function in decoding.c of GNU Libtasn1 before version 4.13 allows for unlimited recursion in the BER decoder, leading to stack exhaustion and a possible DoS attack.

The Impact of CVE-2018-6003

The exploitation of this vulnerability can result in a denial-of-service (DoS) attack, causing affected systems to become unresponsive or crash.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-6003

This section provides more in-depth technical details regarding the CVE-2018-6003 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The _asn1_decode_simple_ber function in decoding.c of GNU Libtasn1 before version 4.13 allows for unlimited recursion in the BER decoder, potentially leading to stack exhaustion and a DoS attack.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: GNU Libtasn1
Vendor: n/a
Versions affected: All versions prior to 4.13

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by triggering the _asn1_decode_simple_ber function with specially crafted input, causing the BER decoder to enter into unlimited recursion, exhausting the stack.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2018-6003 and enhance system security, the following mitigation strategies can be implemented:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update GNU Libtasn1 to version 4.13 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor system logs for any unusual activity that could indicate a DoS attack.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to patch known vulnerabilities.
Implement proper input validation mechanisms to prevent recursive attacks.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by the software vendor promptly to address security vulnerabilities.