CVE-2023-51258 : Security Advisory and Response

A memory leak vulnerability in YASM v.1.3.0 allows a local attacker to perform a denial of service attack through a specific function.

Understanding CVE-2023-51258

This CVE involves a memory leak issue in YASM v.1.3.0 that can be exploited locally to cause a denial of service attack.

What is CVE-2023-51258?

The CVE-2023-51258 is a memory leak vulnerability found in YASM v.1.3.0, enabling a local attacker to trigger a denial of service attack using the new_Token function in modules/preprocs/nasm/nasm-pp:1512.

The Impact of CVE-2023-51258

This vulnerability allows attackers to exhaust system memory resources, leading to a denial of service condition, impacting system availability and performance.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-51258

This section provides detailed technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from a memory leak issue in the new_Token function in YASM v.1.3.0, which can be abused by a local attacker to disrupt system services.

Affected Systems and Versions

YASM v.1.3.0 is confirmed to be impacted by this vulnerability, and other versions may also be susceptible to similar attacks.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by a local attacker by leveraging the new_Token function in the specified module to exhaust system memory resources.

Mitigation and Prevention

Here, we discuss steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2023-51258.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-supplied patches or security updates promptly to address the memory leak issue in YASM v.1.3.0.
Implement least privilege access controls to limit potential attacker capabilities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor system resources for unusual memory consumption patterns to detect potential denial of service attempts.
Conduct security training to educate users on identifying and reporting suspicious activities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories related to YASM and promptly apply patches to protect against known vulnerabilities.