CVE-2019-19308 : Security Advisory and Response
Learn about CVE-2019-19308, a vulnerability in gnome-font-viewer 3.34.0 that could lead to denial of service or arbitrary code execution. Find mitigation steps and preventive measures here.
A NULL pointer dereference vulnerability was discovered in gnome-font-viewer 3.34.0, specifically in the function text_to_glyphs within the file sushi-font-widget.c. This vulnerability occurs when parsing a TTF font file that lacks a name section due to a g_strconcat call returning a NULL value.
Understanding CVE-2019-19308
This CVE entry describes a vulnerability in the gnome-font-viewer application that could be exploited by an attacker to cause a denial of service or potentially execute arbitrary code on the affected system.
What is CVE-2019-19308?
This CVE identifies a NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in gnome-font-viewer 3.34.0, triggered by parsing TTF font files without a name section.
The Impact of CVE-2019-19308
The vulnerability could lead to a denial of service condition or potentially enable attackers to execute arbitrary code on the target system, compromising its integrity and confidentiality.
Technical Details of CVE-2019-19308
This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The issue arises in the text_to_glyphs function in sushi-font-widget.c within gnome-font-viewer 3.34.0, due to a NULL pointer dereference when processing TTF font files without a name section.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Affected Application: gnome-font-viewer 3.34.0
- Affected File: sushi-font-widget.c
- Vulnerable Version: 3.34.0
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability is exploited by providing a TTF font file that does not contain a name section, triggering the g_strconcat call to return a NULL value.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2019-19308 involves immediate actions and long-term security practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply vendor-supplied patches promptly to address the vulnerability.
- Consider restricting access to the gnome-font-viewer application until the patch is applied.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update software and applications to ensure the latest security fixes are in place.
- Implement proper input validation mechanisms to prevent NULL pointer dereference vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
Ensure that the gnome-font-viewer application is updated to a patched version that addresses the NULL pointer dereference vulnerability.