CVE-2018-7731 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability has been found in Exempi version 2.4.4 and below, leading to a NULL pointer dereference within the class WEBP::VP8XChunk.

Understanding CVE-2018-7731

What is CVE-2018-7731?

An issue in Exempi through version 2.4.4 where a failure to validate a bitstream's NULL value can result in a NULL pointer dereference.

The Impact of CVE-2018-7731

The vulnerability can be exploited to cause a NULL pointer dereference, potentially leading to a denial of service or arbitrary code execution.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-7731

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability exists in the file WEBP_Support.cpp in the XMPFiles/source/FormatSupport directory.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Exempi
Versions affected: 2.4.4 and below

Exploitation Mechanism

The issue arises due to a lack of validation for a bitstream's NULL value, allowing an attacker to trigger a NULL pointer dereference.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Exempi to a version that includes a patch for CVE-2018-7731.
Monitor vendor advisories for security patches.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software to the latest versions.
Implement secure coding practices to prevent NULL pointer dereference vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by the vendor to address the vulnerability.