CVE-2019-5815 : What You Need to Know
Learn about CVE-2019-5815, a vulnerability in libxslt prior to version 1.1.33 that could lead to type confusion and heap corruption. Find out how to mitigate the risk and prevent exploitation.
A vulnerability in libxslt prior to version 1.1.33 could lead to type confusion, potentially resulting in heap corruption when processing specially crafted XML data.
Understanding CVE-2019-5815
What is CVE-2019-5815?
The function xsltNumberFormatGetMultipleLevel in versions of libxslt prior to 1.1.33 had a vulnerability that could lead to type confusion, allowing attackers to exploit heap corruption through specially crafted XML data.
The Impact of CVE-2019-5815
This vulnerability could be exploited by attackers to potentially cause heap corruption, leading to system instability or unauthorized access.
Technical Details of CVE-2019-5815
Vulnerability Description
Type confusion in xsltNumberFormatGetMultipleLevel prior to libxslt 1.1.33 could allow attackers to potentially exploit heap corruption via crafted XML data.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: Chrome
- Vendor: Google
- Versions Affected: < 74.0.3729.108
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by providing specially crafted XML data, triggering type confusion and potentially leading to heap corruption.
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update libxslt to version 1.1.33 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
- Avoid processing untrusted XML data to reduce the risk of exploitation.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update software and libraries to patch known vulnerabilities.
- Implement input validation mechanisms to prevent malicious input from causing system vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
Apply security updates and patches provided by the software vendor to address known vulnerabilities.