CVE-2023-24751 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2023-24751 was recently published on March 1, 2023, by MITRE. It involves a vulnerability in libde265 v1.0.10 that can lead to a Denial of Service (DoS) attack through a crafted input file.

Understanding CVE-2023-24751

This section will delve into the details of CVE-2023-24751, shedding light on the vulnerability, its impact, technical aspects, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-24751?

CVE-2023-24751 refers to a NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in the mc_chroma function at motion.cc in libde265 v1.0.10. This security flaw can be exploited by attackers to trigger a Denial of Service (DoS) attack when processing a malicious input file.

The Impact of CVE-2023-24751

The impact of CVE-2023-24751 is significant as it enables malicious actors to disrupt the normal functioning of systems running the affected libde265 version, leading to a DoS condition. This can result in service unavailability and system instability.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-24751

In this section, we will explore the technical aspects of CVE-2023-24751, including the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from a NULL pointer dereference in the mc_chroma function at motion.cc within libde265 v1.0.10. This flaw allows attackers to exploit the software and cause a DoS attack by providing a specially crafted input file.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects libde265 v1.0.10. While specific vendor and product details are not available, any system utilizing this version of libde265 is susceptible to exploitation.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit CVE-2023-24751 by supplying a specially crafted input file to the vulnerable libde265 v1.0.10. This triggers the NULL pointer dereference in the mc_chroma function, leading to a DoS condition.

Mitigation and Prevention

Understanding how to mitigate and prevent CVE-2023-24751 is crucial for safeguarding systems against potential attacks. This section covers immediate steps to take, long-term security practices, and the importance of patching and updates.

Immediate Steps to Take

To mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2023-24751, users are advised to update libde265 to a non-vulnerable version or apply available security patches promptly. Additionally, implementing robust input validation mechanisms can help thwart potential DoS attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

In the long term, organizations should prioritize regular security assessments, code reviews, and threat intelligence monitoring to detect and address vulnerabilities proactively. Educating developers and users on secure coding practices and maintaining up-to-date software libraries are also essential for enhancing security posture.

Patching and Updates

Staying vigilant with security updates and patches is crucial in fortifying systems against known vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-24751. Timely installation of vendor-provided patches and staying informed about security advisories can prevent exploitation of vulnerabilities and ensure a secure computing environment.