CVE-2017-5846 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

CVE-2017-5846 was published on February 9, 2017, and affects GStreamer versions prior to 1.10.3. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service by triggering an invalid memory read and crash through manipulation of the number of languages in a video file.

Understanding CVE-2017-5846

This section provides insights into the nature and impact of the CVE-2017-5846 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2017-5846?

The vulnerability lies in the gst_asf_demux_process_ext_stream_props function in gst-plugins-ugly in GStreamer versions before 1.10.3. Attackers can exploit this flaw to trigger an invalid memory read, leading to a crash and denial of service.

The Impact of CVE-2017-5846

The vulnerability allows remote attackers to exploit GStreamer's functionality, potentially causing a denial of service by crashing the system through memory read manipulation.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-5846

This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE-2017-5846 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The gst_asf_demux_process_ext_stream_props function in gst-plugins-ugly in GStreamer versions before 1.10.3 enables remote attackers to trigger a denial of service via an invalid memory read related to the number of languages in a video file.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Versions affected: All versions prior to GStreamer 1.10.3

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by manipulating the number of languages in a video file, causing an invalid memory read that leads to a system crash and denial of service.

Mitigation and Prevention

Understanding how to mitigate and prevent CVE-2017-5846 is crucial for maintaining system security.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update GStreamer to version 1.10.3 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor vendor advisories and security mailing lists for patches and updates.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to the latest versions to address known vulnerabilities.
Implement network security measures to detect and block malicious activities.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by GStreamer promptly to address CVE-2017-5846 and other potential vulnerabilities.