Heap-Based Buffer Overflow in Gnuplot: CVE-2018-19490
Summary
UBUNTU-CVE-2018-19490: An issue was discovered in datafile.c in Gnuplot 5.2.5. Affects gnuplot versions 4.6.3-2 – 4.6.4-2ubuntu0.1~esm2. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
Gnuplot is a portable command-line driven graphing utility that is widely used for plotting mathematical functions and data visualization. It supports various output formats and can be used in different environments, including command-line interfaces and graphical interfaces. The vulnerability in question affects specific versions of Gnuplot, allowing for potential exploitation through improper handling of input data.
Vulnerability Detail
An issue was discovered in datafile.c in Gnuplot 5.2.5, which allows an attacker to conduct a heap-based buffer overflow by passing an overlong string as the right bound of the range argument to the plot function. This vulnerability can lead to arbitrary code execution, data corruption, or denial of service, making it critical for users who rely on Gnuplot for data visualization.
How To Fix
No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.
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Workaround
As a temporary workaround, users can avoid passing overly long strings as arguments to the plot function until the package is updated. This can help mitigate the risk of exploitation until a permanent fix is applied.
Conclusion
The CVE-2018-19490 vulnerability in Gnuplot presents a significant risk due to its potential for exploitation through heap-based buffer overflow. Users are strongly advised to update their Gnuplot installations to the patched versions to mitigate this risk. Additionally, employing tools like Vulert can help in monitoring for such vulnerabilities in the future.
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FAQ
CVE-2018-19490 is a vulnerability in Gnuplot that allows for a heap-based buffer overflow due to improper input handling.
You can check your Gnuplot version by running 'gnuplot --version' in the terminal. Compare it with the affected versions listed in the vulnerability report.
Exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to arbitrary code execution, data corruption, or denial of service, posing significant risks to users.
Yes, tools like Vulert can monitor and alert in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in your software without requiring code access.
Detailed information about CVE-2018-19490 can be found in the official security notices and vulnerability databases.
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