CVE-2017-5838 : Security Advisory and Response

A denial of service vulnerability exists in GStreamer versions prior to 1.10.3. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability remotely by providing a malformed datetime string, leading to an out-of-bounds heap read. It is recommended to update to GStreamer 1.10.3 or later to mitigate this vulnerability.

Understanding CVE-2017-5838

This CVE involves a denial of service vulnerability in GStreamer versions prior to 1.10.3 due to a specific function in the code.

What is CVE-2017-5838?

The vulnerability is caused by the gst_date_time_new_from_iso8601_string function in gst/gstdatetime.c in GStreamer before version 1.10.3. Attackers can trigger a denial of service by providing a malformed datetime string.

The Impact of CVE-2017-5838

Exploiting this vulnerability can result in an out-of-bounds heap read, potentially leading to a system crash or other adverse effects.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-5838

This section provides more detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The gst_date_time_new_from_iso8601_string function in GStreamer before 1.10.3 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds heap read) via a malformed datetime string.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: n/a
Vendor: n/a
Versions affected: All versions prior to 1.10.3

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability remotely by providing a specifically crafted datetime string, triggering the out-of-bounds heap read.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2017-5838, the following steps are recommended:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update GStreamer to version 1.10.3 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to the latest versions to patch known vulnerabilities.
Implement network security measures to prevent remote exploitation of vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and patches released by GStreamer to address vulnerabilities promptly.