CVE-2023-36807 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis
Learn about CVE-2023-36807, a vulnerability in the pypdf library version 2.10.5 that allows attackers to trigger an infinite loop, impacting CPU usage. Find out how to mitigate the risk and prevent DoS attacks.
Understanding CVE-2023-36807
What is CVE-2023-36807?
CVE-2023-36807 is a vulnerability identified in the pypdf library, specifically version 2.10.5. This vulnerability allows an attacker to create a PDF file that triggers an infinite loop when processed. As a result, the affected process gets stuck, utilizing 100% of a CPU core. This issue was addressed in version 2.10.6.
The Impact of CVE-2023-36807
The impact of CVE-2023-36807 is that it can lead to a denial of service (DoS) condition where the affected process is unresponsive due to the infinite loop, potentially causing disruption or resource exhaustion.
Technical Details of CVE-2023-36807
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability in pypdf version 2.10.5 allows an attacker to create a PDF file triggering an infinite loop, leading to a denial of service condition where the process becomes unresponsive. The issue was resolved in version 2.10.6.
Affected Systems and Versions
The vulnerability affects users of the pypdf library using version 2.10.5. Prior versions throw an error instead of getting stuck in an infinite loop.
Exploitation Mechanism
An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a malicious PDF that, when processed, triggers an infinite loop in the code, causing the affected process to hang.
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take
Users are advised to upgrade to pypdf version 2.10.6, where the vulnerability has been addressed. If upgrading is not possible, users can make a code modification to ensure that the affected function throws an error instead of getting stuck in an infinite loop.
Long-Term Security Practices
To prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future, developers should implement secure coding practices and conduct thorough input validation to avoid processing malicious or malformed files.
Patching and Updates
It is crucial for users to stay updated with the latest releases of libraries and software to ensure that security patches are applied in a timely manner.