CVE-2017-5841 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability was found in the gst_avi_demux_parse_ncdt function in gst-plugins-good in GStreamer versions prior to 1.10.3. Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability to cause a denial of service through an out-of-bounds heap read.

Understanding CVE-2017-5841

This CVE entry describes a specific vulnerability in GStreamer versions before 1.10.3 that could lead to a denial of service attack.

What is CVE-2017-5841?

The vulnerability in the gst_avi_demux_parse_ncdt function in gst-plugins-good in GStreamer versions prior to 1.10.3 allows remote attackers to trigger an out-of-bounds heap read, potentially leading to a denial of service.

The Impact of CVE-2017-5841

The vulnerability can be exploited by remote attackers to cause a denial of service by triggering an out-of-bounds heap read, specifically through the use of ncdt tags.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-5841

This section provides more technical details about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The gst_avi_demux_parse_ncdt function in gst-plugins-good in GStreamer before 1.10.3 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds heap read) via vectors involving ncdt tags.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Versions affected: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited remotely by triggering an out-of-bounds heap read, specifically through the use of ncdt tags.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2017-5841, follow these mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update GStreamer to version 1.10.3 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor vendor advisories and apply patches promptly.

Long-Term Security Practices

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

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by GStreamer to fix the vulnerability.