CVE-2018-19497 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

The Sleuth Kit (TSK) version 4.6.4 has a vulnerability that allows attackers to launch a denial of service attack, leading to a segmentation fault on an unknown address with READ memory access.

Understanding CVE-2018-19497

This CVE entry details a specific vulnerability in The Sleuth Kit (TSK) version 4.6.4.

What is CVE-2018-19497?

In version 4.6.4 of The Sleuth Kit (TSK), a flaw in the function hfs_cat_traverse in the file tsk/fs/hfs.c allows attackers to trigger a denial of service attack by exploiting an issue related to key length detection.

The Impact of CVE-2018-19497

The vulnerability enables attackers to cause a segmentation fault on an unknown address with READ memory access, potentially leading to a denial of service condition.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-19497

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the CVE-2018-19497 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in the hfs_cat_traverse function in TSK version 4.6.4 allows attackers to exploit key length detection inaccuracies, resulting in a denial of service attack.

Affected Systems and Versions

The Sleuth Kit (TSK) version 4.6.4

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can trigger a denial of service attack by causing a segmentation fault on an unknown address with READ memory access through a specific function call in TSK.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-19497 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update The Sleuth Kit (TSK) to a patched version that addresses the vulnerability.
Monitor for any unusual system behavior that could indicate a potential exploit.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and firmware to patch known vulnerabilities.
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Apply security updates provided by The Sleuth Kit (TSK) to mitigate the CVE-2018-19497 vulnerability.