CVE-2020-11721 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2020-11721, a vulnerability in libsixel 1.8.6 that can lead to a denial of service due to an uninitialized pointer in the load_png function. Find out how to mitigate and prevent this issue.
This CVE-2020-11721 article provides insights into a vulnerability in libsixel 1.8.6 that can lead to a denial of service due to an uninitialized pointer in load_png function.
Understanding CVE-2020-11721
What is CVE-2020-11721?
CVE-2020-11721 is a vulnerability in libsixel 1.8.6 that allows for a denial of service attack due to an uninitialized pointer in the load_png function.
The Impact of CVE-2020-11721
The vulnerability can be exploited to cause a denial of service by triggering an invalid call to free.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-11721
Vulnerability Description
The issue lies in the load_png function in libsixel.a in libsixel 1.8.6, where an uninitialized pointer can lead to a denial of service through an invalid call to free.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Affected Version: libsixel 1.8.6
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker to trigger the uninitialized pointer, leading to a denial of service.
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update to a patched version of libsixel to mitigate the vulnerability.
- Monitor for any unusual system behavior that could indicate a denial of service attack.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update software and libraries to ensure the latest security patches are applied.
- Conduct security assessments and code reviews to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
Apply patches provided by the vendor to address the uninitialized pointer vulnerability in libsixel.