Augeas Escaped Strings Handling Heap-Based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability [CVE-2017-7555]

CVE number – CVE-2017-7555

A vulnerability in Augeas could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (DoS) condition on a targeted system.

The vulnerability exists because the affected software does not properly handle escaped strings. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a request that submits malicious strings to an affected application. A successful exploit could cause a heap-based buffer overflow condition that the attacker could use to execute arbitrary code or cause the application to crash, resulting in a DoS condition. 

The Hercules Team has confirmed the vulnerability and released software updates.

Analysis

• To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must send a request that submits malicious strings to the targeted system, making exploitation more difficult in environments that restrict network access from untrusted sources.

Safeguards

• Administrators are advised to apply the appropriate updates.
  
  Administrators are advised to allow only trusted users to have network access.
  
  Administrators are advised to run both firewall and antivirus applications to minimize the potential of inbound and outbound threats.
  
  Administrators may consider using IP-based access control lists (ACLs) to allow only trusted systems to access the affected systems.
  
  Administrators can help protect affected systems from external attacks by using a solid firewall strategy.
  
  Administrators are advised to monitor affected systems.

Vendor Announcements

• The Hercules Team has released a pull request at the following link: Pull #480

Fixed Software

• The Hercules Team has released software updates at the following link: augeas 1.8.1