CVE-2018-20097: Denial of Service Vulnerability in exiv2
Summary
CVE-2018-20097: There is a SEGV in Exiv2::Internal::TiffParserWorker::findPrimaryGroups of tiffimage_int.cpp in Exiv2 0.27-RC3. Affects exiv2 versions 0.1 – 0.3.1. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
Also tracked for
- exiv2 · Debian:11
The same CVE-2018-20097 is tracked separately for each ecosystem and vendor. Its fix information is the same; the package and affected versions differ.
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Background
Exiv2 is an open-source image metadata library and toolset that allows users to read, write, and manipulate metadata in various image file formats. It is widely used in applications that deal with image processing and management. However, Exiv2 versions up to 0.27-RC3 are vulnerable to a denial of service attack.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability (CVE-2018-20097) resides in the TiffParserWorker::findPrimaryGroups function of the tiffimage_int.cpp file in Exiv2. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by providing a specially crafted input, which triggers a segmentation fault (SEGV) in the application. This can lead to a remote denial of service attack, causing the application to crash and potentially disrupting its normal operation.
How To Fix
No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.
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Workaround
As a temporary workaround, users can consider implementing input validation and sanitization mechanisms to filter out potentially malicious inputs. By carefully validating and sanitizing user-supplied data, the risk of triggering the vulnerability can be reduced.
Conclusion
The vulnerability (CVE-2018-20097) in Exiv2 versions up to 0.27-RC3 can be exploited to cause a denial of service attack. To mitigate this vulnerability, it is recommended to update Exiv2 to a version beyond 0.27-RC3. Implementing input validation and sanitization mechanisms can also reduce the risk. For further support on vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
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FAQ
The vulnerability allows an attacker to remotely crash the Exiv2 application, leading to a denial of service condition. This can disrupt the normal operation of the application and potentially impact its availability.
No, authentication is not required. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability remotely without any authentication.
There are no known instances of this vulnerability being exploited in the wild at the time of this report. However, it is important to apply the necessary security updates to mitigate the risk.
No, this vulnerability is limited to causing a denial of service. It does not allow for arbitrary code execution.
Yes, the CVSS score for this vulnerability is 6.5, indicating a medium severity level.
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