CVE-2018-7441 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

CVE-2018-7441 is a vulnerability in Leptonica up to version 1.75.3 that exposes predefined /tmp pathnames in its code, potentially allowing local users to manipulate files or create unintended consequences. This CVE was published on February 23, 2018, by MITRE.

Understanding CVE-2018-7441

Leptonica, up to version 1.75.3, has a security flaw that could be exploited by users with local access to the system.

What is CVE-2018-7441?

CVE-2018-7441 is a vulnerability in Leptonica that allows local users to replace files or create unintended consequences by exploiting predefined /tmp pathnames.

The Impact of CVE-2018-7441

This vulnerability could lead to unauthorized file manipulation or unintended system changes by users with local access.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-7441

Leptonica version 1.75.3 is affected by this vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from the use of predefined /tmp pathnames in the Leptonica code, enabling potential file manipulation by local users.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: n/a
Product: n/a
Affected Version: up to 1.75.3

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by local users with access to the system, allowing them to replace files or create unintended consequences.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to address and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2018-7441.

Immediate Steps to Take

Monitor system logs for any suspicious file activities in /tmp directory.
Restrict access to the system to authorized users only.
Implement file integrity monitoring to detect unauthorized changes.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Leptonica to the latest version to patch known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security training for users to raise awareness of file manipulation risks.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that Leptonica is updated to version 1.75.4 or later to mitigate the CVE-2018-7441 vulnerability.