Input validation error in libarchive

1) Input validation error

EUVDB-ID: #VU32265

Risk: Medium

CVSSv3.1: 6.5 [CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C]

CVE-ID: CVE-2016-4809

CWE-ID: CWE-20 - Improper input validation

Exploit availability: No

Description

The vulnerability allows a remote non-authenticated attacker to perform a denial of service (DoS) attack.

The archive_read_format_cpio_read_header function in archive_read_support_format_cpio.c in libarchive before 3.2.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a CPIO archive with a large symlink.

Mitigation

Install update from vendor's website.

Vulnerable software versions

libarchive: 3.2.0

External links

http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1844.html
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-1850.html
http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3657
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinjul2016-3090544.html
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/91813
http://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1347084
http://github.com/libarchive/libarchive/commit/fd7e0c02
http://github.com/libarchive/libarchive/issues/705
http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201701-03

Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

Yes. This vulnerability can be exploited by a remote non-authenticated attacker via the Internet.

How the attacker can exploit this vulnerability?

The attacker would have to trick the victim to open a a specially crafted archive.

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

No. We are not aware of malware exploiting this vulnerability.