CVE-2019-11476 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

CVE-2019-11476, assigned by Canonical, involves an integer overflow in whoopsie, potentially leading to out-of-bounds heap write.

Understanding CVE-2019-11476

What is CVE-2019-11476?

An integer overflow in whoopsie versions prior to specific releases can trigger an out-of-bounds write in the heap, potentially causing crashes or enabling arbitrary code execution.

The Impact of CVE-2019-11476

The vulnerability can result in the compromise of system integrity and confidentiality, with a CVSS base score of 6.5 (Medium severity).

Technical Details of CVE-2019-11476

Vulnerability Description

An integer overflow in whoopsie versions before specific releases leads to out-of-bounds heap write, posing a security risk.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: Ubuntu
Product: Whoopsie
Vulnerable Versions:
before 0.2.52.5ubuntu0.1
before 0.2.62ubuntu0.1
before 0.2.64ubuntu0.1
before 0.2.66

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability arises when processing large crash dumps, causing an integer overflow and subsequent out-of-bounds write in the heap.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update whoopsie to versions 0.2.52.5ubuntu0.1, 0.2.62ubuntu0.1, 0.2.64ubuntu0.1, or 0.2.66 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor for any unusual system behavior that could indicate exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and systems to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Implement secure coding practices to avoid integer overflow vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply the necessary patches provided by Ubuntu to address the vulnerability.