CVE-2019-18854 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Safe-SVG Plugin Denial of Service Vulnerability

Understanding CVE-2019-18854

What is CVE-2019-18854?

The CVE-2019-18854 vulnerability is found in the Safe-SVG plugin, also known as Safe SVG, used in WordPress versions up to 1.9.4. It allows for Denial of Service attacks due to an infinite recursion issue.

The Impact of CVE-2019-18854

This vulnerability can be exploited to cause Denial of Service attacks, potentially disrupting the availability of WordPress websites using the affected plugin.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-18854

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the Safe-SVG plugin allows for Denial of Service attacks due to an infinite recursion issue triggered by a specific substring.

Affected Systems and Versions

Safe-SVG plugin versions up to 1.9.4 for WordPress

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is exploited by triggering an infinite recursion issue when encountering the '<use ... xlink:href="#identifier">' substring.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable or remove the Safe-SVG plugin if not essential for website functionality
Monitor for any unusual activity or performance degradation on WordPress sites

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update plugins and themes to patch known vulnerabilities
Implement web application firewalls to protect against DoS attacks

Patching and Updates

Update the Safe-SVG plugin to the latest version available to mitigate the vulnerability