CVE-2019-9904 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A problem was detected in the file dttree.c located in the lib\cdt directory within the graphviz 2.40.1. This issue arises due to the recursive agclose calls in the file graph.c located in the libcgraph.a, which is related to the agfstsubg function in the file subg.c located in the lib\cgraph directory.

Understanding CVE-2019-9904

This CVE involves a vulnerability in the graphviz 2.40.1 library that can lead to stack consumption due to recursive agclose calls.

What is CVE-2019-9904?

CVE-2019-9904 is a vulnerability found in the graphviz 2.40.1 library, specifically in the files dttree.c, graph.c, and subg.c, leading to stack consumption.

The Impact of CVE-2019-9904

The vulnerability can be exploited to cause a stack buffer overflow, potentially allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary code or crash the application.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-9904

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue stems from recursive agclose calls in graph.c, resulting in stack consumption in the graphviz library.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Version: graphviz 2.40.1
Systems using the vulnerable versions of the graphviz library

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploitation involves triggering recursive agclose calls in the graphviz library

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-9904 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update to a patched version of the graphviz library
Monitor for any unusual activities on the system

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to prevent known vulnerabilities
Implement secure coding practices to avoid stack buffer overflows

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by the vendor to fix the vulnerability