CVE-2019-14871 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability in newlib versions prior to 3.3.0 could allow attackers to exploit memory allocation issues when the DEBUG flag is disabled.

Understanding CVE-2019-14871

This CVE involves a macro in newlib that fails to verify memory allocation problems under specific conditions.

What is CVE-2019-14871?

The REENT_CHECK macro in newlib versions before 3.3.0 does not adequately handle memory allocation issues when the DEBUG flag is turned off.

The Impact of CVE-2019-14871

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 6.5 (Medium severity) with a high impact on availability.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-14871

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The REENT_CHECK macro in newlib versions prior to 3.3.0 fails to verify memory allocation issues when the DEBUG flag is disabled.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: newlib
Vendor: Red Hat
Affected Versions: All newlib versions prior to 3.3.0

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by manipulating memory allocation in firmware builds intended for production purposes.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2019-14871 with these mitigation strategies.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update to newlib version 3.3.0 or newer to address the vulnerability.
Enable the DEBUG flag in firmware builds to detect memory allocation issues.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update software components to prevent vulnerabilities.
Implement secure coding practices to minimize the risk of memory-related vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by Red Hat to fix the vulnerability.