CVE-2019-17594 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies
Discover the heap-based buffer over-read issue in the ncurses library prior to 6.1-20191012. Learn about the impact, affected systems, exploitation, and mitigation steps.
The ncurses library version prior to 6.1-20191012 contains a heap-based buffer over-read issue in the _nc_find_entry function in tinfo/comp_hash.c.
Understanding CVE-2019-17594
What is CVE-2019-17594?
There is a heap-based buffer over-read in the _nc_find_entry function in tinfo/comp_hash.c in the terminfo library in ncurses before 6.1-20191012.
The Impact of CVE-2019-17594
This vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service by triggering a buffer over-read.
Technical Details of CVE-2019-17594
Vulnerability Description
The issue lies in a heap-based buffer over-read in the _nc_find_entry function in tinfo/comp_hash.c in the ncurses library.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: Not applicable
- Vendor: Not applicable
- Versions affected: Not applicable
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability can be exploited by a remote attacker sending a specially crafted file to the affected system, triggering the buffer over-read.
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply the official patch provided by the vendor to fix the buffer over-read issue.
- Monitor vendor advisories and update the ncurses library to the patched version.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update software and libraries to the latest versions to prevent known vulnerabilities.
- Implement network security measures to prevent unauthorized access to vulnerable systems.
Patching and Updates
Ensure timely patching of the ncurses library to the latest version to mitigate the heap-based buffer over-read vulnerability.