CVE-2023-38253 : Security Advisory and Response

An out-of-bounds read vulnerability was discovered in the w3m software, specifically in the

growbuf_to_Str

function in

indep.c

. This vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker to launch a denial of service attack using a maliciously crafted HTML file.

Understanding CVE-2023-38253

This section delves into the details of the CVE-2023-38253 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2023-38253?

CVE-2023-38253 is an out-of-bounds read flaw in the w3m software, potentially leading to a denial of service attack.

The Impact of CVE-2023-38253

The impact of this vulnerability could allow an attacker to disrupt the normal operation of systems running the affected software, posing a risk to system availability.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-38253

Here we explore more technical aspects of CVE-2023-38253.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises due to an out-of-bounds read issue in the

growbuf_to_Str

function in

indep.c

of the w3m software.

Affected Systems and Versions

The following systems are impacted by this vulnerability:

Affected: w3m (All Versions)
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6: Unaffected
Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux: Affected
Fedora: Affected

Exploitation Mechanism

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by providing a specifically crafted HTML file to trigger the out-of-bounds read flaw in the

growbuf_to_Str

function.

Mitigation and Prevention

In this section, we discuss how to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2023-38253.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to apply security updates provided by the software vendor to address this vulnerability promptly.

Long-Term Security Practices

It is recommended to follow secure coding practices, conduct regular security assessments, and stay informed about security updates for the w3m software.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that you stay up to date with the latest patches and updates from the software vendor to protect against potential exploitation of CVE-2023-38253.