CVE-2019-14248 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability has been identified in the version 2.14.xx of the Netwide Assembler (NASM), specifically in the libnasm.a file. The issue resides in the asm/pragma.c module and involves a NULL pointer dereference in the functions process_pragma, search_pragma_list, and nasm_set_limit. This vulnerability occurs when the mishandling of "%pragma limit" directives takes place.

Understanding CVE-2019-14248

This CVE-2019-14248 pertains to a vulnerability in the Netwide Assembler (NASM) version 2.14.xx, affecting the libnasm.a file.

What is CVE-2019-14248?

The vulnerability in libnasm.a in NASM 2.14.xx allows a NULL pointer dereference in specific functions when "%pragma limit" is mishandled.

The Impact of CVE-2019-14248

The vulnerability could potentially lead to a denial of service (DoS) condition or arbitrary code execution by an attacker exploiting the NULL pointer dereference.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-14248

This section provides technical details about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability involves a NULL pointer dereference in the functions process_pragma, search_pragma_list, and nasm_set_limit in the asm/pragma.c module of NASM 2.14.xx.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Netwide Assembler (NASM)
Version: 2.14.xx

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability occurs due to the mishandling of "%pragma limit" directives in the mentioned functions.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2019-14248, follow these mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor patches or updates once available.
Monitor vendor communications for security advisories.
Restrict network access to vulnerable systems.

Long-Term Security Practices

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

Patching and Updates

Check for patches or updates from NASM to address the vulnerability.