CVE-2019-1798 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability in Clam AntiVirus (ClamAV) Software versions 0.101.1 and earlier could allow an attacker to exploit the Portable Executable (PE) file scanning feature, potentially leading to a denial of service attack.

Understanding CVE-2019-1798

What is CVE-2019-1798?

The CVE-2019-1798 vulnerability is a flaw in the PE file scanning functionality of Clam AntiVirus (ClamAV) Software versions 0.101.1 and prior. It allows an unauthenticated attacker to send corrupted PE files to a device running an outdated ClamAV version, causing a denial of service.

The Impact of CVE-2019-1798

The exploitation of this vulnerability could result in an out-of-bounds read issue, leading to a crash and subsequent denial of service on the affected device.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-1798

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in ClamAV Software versions 0.101.1 and earlier is caused by a lack of proper mechanisms to check and verify input for PE files being sent to the affected device.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: ClamAV
Vendor: Cisco
Versions affected: <= 0.101.1

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: Low
Attack Vector: Network
Availability Impact: High
Base Score: 7.5 (High)
Vector String: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update ClamAV Software to a version beyond 0.101.1 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor vendor advisories for patches and updates.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement proper input validation mechanisms in software to prevent similar vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates provided by Cisco for ClamAV Software to address the vulnerability.