CVE-2018-20191 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

In QEMU, the file pvrdma_main.c lacks the implementation of a read operation similar to uar_write, allowing potential attackers to exploit the vulnerability and trigger a denial of service through a NULL pointer dereference.

Understanding CVE-2018-20191

This CVE involves a vulnerability in QEMU that can be exploited to cause a denial of service.

What is CVE-2018-20191?

The vulnerability in QEMU's pvrdma_main.c file allows attackers to trigger a denial of service by exploiting a missing read operation.

The Impact of CVE-2018-20191

The vulnerability enables potential attackers to exploit the gap in the implementation and cause a denial of service by triggering a NULL pointer dereference.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-20191

This section provides technical details about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue lies in the lack of a read operation in pvrdma_main.c, similar to uar_write, which can be exploited by attackers.

Affected Systems and Versions

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

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by causing a NULL pointer dereference through the missing read operation.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-20191 requires specific actions.

Immediate Steps to Take

Monitor for any unusual activity that could indicate exploitation of the vulnerability.
Apply patches or updates provided by the vendor to address the issue.

Long-Term Security Practices

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

Patching and Updates

Ensure that the latest patches and updates from the vendor are applied to mitigate the vulnerability.