CVE-2018-14618 : Security Advisory and Response

CVE-2018-14618, published on September 5, 2018, addresses a buffer overrun vulnerability in curl before version 7.61.1 due to an issue in the NTLM authentication code.

Understanding CVE-2018-14618

This CVE entry highlights a critical vulnerability in the curl software that could be exploited by attackers.

What is CVE-2018-14618?

The vulnerability in curl version 7.61.1 is caused by an integer overflow in the NTLM authentication code, leading to a heap buffer overflow.

The Impact of CVE-2018-14618

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 7.5, indicating a high severity level with significant impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-14618

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from an integer overflow in the function Curl_ntlm_core_mk_nt_hash, causing a smaller buffer allocation than intended, resulting in a heap buffer overflow.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: curl
Vendor: [UNKNOWN]
Versions Affected: 7.61.1

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited remotely with no privileges required, making it a critical security concern.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-14618 is crucial to maintaining security.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update curl to version 7.61.1 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor vendor advisories for patches and security updates.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and apply security patches promptly.
Implement network security measures to detect and prevent exploitation attempts.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and apply patches promptly to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.