CVE-2019-18197 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

A potential issue in the xsltCopyText function within libxslt version 1.1.33 could lead to memory corruption and disclosure of uninitialized data.

Understanding CVE-2019-18197

This CVE involves a vulnerability in the xsltCopyText function in libxslt version 1.1.33 that could result in memory corruption.

What is CVE-2019-18197?

The xsltCopyText function in libxslt 1.1.33 fails to reset a pointer variable under specific conditions. This oversight may lead to a bounds check failure, potentially causing data to be written outside the intended memory buffer or exposing uninitialized data.

The Impact of CVE-2019-18197

The vulnerability could be exploited to trigger memory corruption, potentially leading to unauthorized access or system crashes.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-18197

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The xsltCopyText function in libxslt 1.1.33 does not properly reset a pointer variable, which, under certain circumstances, can result in memory corruption.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Version: libxslt version 1.1.33

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by manipulating memory allocation and reuse to trigger a bounds check failure.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-18197 requires immediate actions and long-term security measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches provided by the vendor promptly.
Monitor security advisories for updates and follow best practices for secure coding.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security audits and code reviews to identify and address potential weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Refer to vendor-specific security advisories for patching instructions and updates.