CVE-2020-23851 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability in ffjpeg through 2020-07-02 could lead to a denial of service by exploiting a specific function.

Understanding CVE-2020-23851

This CVE involves a vulnerability in the jfif_decode function in ffjpeg, potentially allowing a denial of service attack.

What is CVE-2020-23851?

The vulnerability is a stack-based buffer overflow in the jfif_decode function in ffjpeg, which could be triggered by a malicious jpeg image.

The Impact of CVE-2020-23851

Exploiting this vulnerability could result in a denial of service attack, rendering the affected system unavailable.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-23851

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability exists in the jfif_decode function at ffjpeg/src/jfif.c:513:28, allowing a stack-based buffer overflow.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Versions: All versions of ffjpeg through 2020-07-02 are affected.

Exploitation Mechanism

By submitting a specially crafted jpeg image, an attacker can trigger the buffer overflow, leading to a denial of service.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2020-23851, consider the following mitigation strategies.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor patches or updates if available.
Implement network-level protections to filter out potentially malicious jpeg images.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and code reviews to identify and address similar issues.

Patching and Updates

Keep the ffjpeg software up to date with the latest patches and versions to mitigate the vulnerability effectively.