CVE-2019-9771 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A problem has been detected in versions 0.7 and 0.7.1645 of GNU LibreDWG. The function bit_convert_TU, located in bits.c, has a NULL pointer dereference.

Understanding CVE-2019-9771

This CVE entry highlights a vulnerability in GNU LibreDWG versions 0.7 and 0.7.1645 that leads to a NULL pointer dereference in the bit_convert_TU function.

What is CVE-2019-9771?

CVE-2019-9771 is a vulnerability found in GNU LibreDWG versions 0.7 and 0.7.1645, specifically in the function bit_convert_TU in bits.c. This issue results in a NULL pointer dereference, which could potentially be exploited by attackers.

The Impact of CVE-2019-9771

The vulnerability could allow an attacker to cause a denial of service or potentially execute arbitrary code by exploiting the NULL pointer dereference in the affected function.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-9771

This section provides more in-depth technical details about the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in GNU LibreDWG versions 0.7 and 0.7.1645 is due to a NULL pointer dereference in the bit_convert_TU function located in bits.c.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: n/a
Vendor: n/a
Versions: 0.7, 0.7.1645

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by malicious actors to trigger a NULL pointer dereference, potentially leading to a denial of service or arbitrary code execution.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-9771 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches or updates provided by the vendor to address the vulnerability.
Monitor vendor advisories and security mailing lists for any further updates or patches.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and systems to ensure the latest security patches are in place.
Implement strong access controls and authentication mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access.

Patching and Updates

Check for patches or updates released by GNU LibreDWG to fix the NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in versions 0.7 and 0.7.1645.