CVE-2019-17543 : Security Advisory and Response

LZ4 before version 1.9.2 has a critical buffer overflow vulnerability that can lead to data corruption. Learn about the impact, technical details, and mitigation steps for this CVE.

Understanding CVE-2019-17543

This CVE involves a buffer overflow vulnerability in the LZ4 library, affecting specific use cases of the LZ4_compress_fast function.

What is CVE-2019-17543?

The LZ4 version prior to 1.9.2 has a buffer overflow vulnerability in the LZ4_write32 function, impacting applications using LZ4_compress_fast with significant input sizes. This issue can potentially lead to data corruption, although the vendor states that only specific or uncommon API uses are affected.

The Impact of CVE-2019-17543

The vulnerability can result in data corruption in applications utilizing LZ4_compress_fast with large input sizes.
Specific or uncommon uses of the API are at risk according to the vendor.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-17543

This section covers the vulnerability description, affected systems, versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability lies in a heap-based buffer overflow in LZ4_write32, specifically related to LZ4_compress_destSize, affecting applications calling LZ4_compress_fast with large inputs.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: n/a
Vendor: n/a
Versions: Prior to 1.9.2

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited in applications that make use of LZ4_compress_fast function with a significant input size, leading to a buffer overflow and potential data corruption.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2019-17543 by following these mitigation steps and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update LZ4 to version 1.9.2 or later to patch the vulnerability.
Monitor vendor advisories and security alerts for any further updates or patches.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to the latest versions to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
Implement secure coding practices and conduct regular security audits to identify and address potential risks.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by the vendor promptly to address the buffer overflow vulnerability in LZ4.