CVE-2019-13453 : Security Advisory and Response

Zipios before version 0.1.7 has a vulnerability that could lead to a denial of service due to improper handling of malformed zip archives.

Understanding CVE-2019-13453

This CVE involves a flaw in Zipios that could result in an infinite loop, causing a denial of service.

What is CVE-2019-13453?

Zipios prior to version 0.1.7 mishandles specific malformed zip archives, potentially leading to a denial of service. The vulnerability is located in the code sections zipheadio.h:readUint32() and zipfile.cpp:Zipfile::Zipfile().

The Impact of CVE-2019-13453

The vulnerability in Zipios could allow an attacker to create a malicious zip archive that, when processed by the application, triggers an infinite loop, consuming excessive resources and leading to a denial of service condition.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-13453

Zipios version 0.1.7 and earlier are susceptible to this vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in Zipios arises from its inability to handle specific malformed zip archives correctly, causing the application to enter an infinite loop.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Version: Zipios versions prior to 0.1.7

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a specially malformed zip archive and tricking a user or system into processing it, leading to the denial of service.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2019-13453.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Zipios to version 0.1.7 or later to patch the vulnerability.
Avoid processing zip archives from untrusted or unknown sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to the latest versions to address known vulnerabilities.
Implement input validation mechanisms to detect and prevent the processing of malformed zip archives.

Patching and Updates

Apply security updates and patches provided by Zipios to ensure the software is protected against CVE-2019-13453.