CVE-2018-14622 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

A vulnerability related to null-pointer dereference was discovered in libtirpc prior to version 0.3.3-rc3. The absence of proper verification for the return value of makefd_xprt() in certain cases could result in a system crash if the server exceeded the maximum limit of file descriptors. An external attacker could exploit this flaw by overwhelming an rpc-based application with excessive connection requests, causing it to malfunction.

Understanding CVE-2018-14622

This CVE involves a null-pointer dereference vulnerability in libtirpc before version 0.3.3-rc3.

What is CVE-2018-14622?

A null-pointer dereference flaw in libtirpc pre-0.3.3-rc3
Lack of proper verification for makefd_xprt() return value
Could lead to system crash due to file descriptor limit exceedance
Attackers could disrupt rpc-based applications by flooding them with connections

The Impact of CVE-2018-14622

CVSS Base Score: 5.3 (Medium)
Attack Vector: Network
Attack Complexity: Low
Privileges Required: None
Availability Impact: Low
Integrity Impact: None
Confidentiality Impact: None
Scope: Unchanged
User Interaction: None

Technical Details of CVE-2018-14622

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

Null-pointer dereference in libtirpc
Failure to check makefd_xprt() return value
Potential system crash from file descriptor exhaustion

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: libtirpc
Vendor: [UNKNOWN]
Versions Affected: 0.3.3-rc3

Exploitation Mechanism

External attacker floods rpc-based applications with excessive connection requests

Mitigation and Prevention

Learn how to mitigate and prevent the CVE-2018-14622 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches provided by the vendor
Monitor network traffic for suspicious activity
Implement network-level controls to limit connections

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries
Conduct security assessments and audits
Educate users and administrators on secure coding practices

Patching and Updates

Refer to vendor advisories for patching instructions and updates