CVE-2020-35636 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A code execution vulnerability exists in the Nef polygon-parsing functionality of CGAL libcgal CGAL-5.1.1, potentially leading to out-of-bounds read and type confusion.

Understanding CVE-2020-35636

What is CVE-2020-35636?

This CVE identifies a code execution vulnerability in CGAL libcgal CGAL-5.1.1 due to an out-of-bounds read and type confusion that can be triggered by a specially crafted file.

The Impact of CVE-2020-35636

The vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code by providing malicious input, posing a significant risk to affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-35636

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability exists in the Nef polygon-parsing functionality of CGAL libcgal CGAL-5.1.1, specifically in Nef_S2/SNC_io_parser.h SNC_io_parser::read_sface() sfh->volume() OOB read.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: CGAL Project
Product: CGAL Project libcgal CGAL-5.1.1
Status: Affected

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by providing a specially crafted malformed file, triggering an out-of-bounds read and type confusion that could lead to code execution.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches provided by the vendor promptly.
Implement proper input validation to prevent malicious files from being processed.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to address known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and code reviews to identify and mitigate potential risks.

Patching and Updates

It is crucial to stay informed about security updates and apply patches as soon as they are available.