CVE-2017-13738 in Liblouis
Summary
by MITRE
There is an illegal address access in the _lou_getALine function in compileTranslationTable.c:346 in Liblouis 3.2.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13738 represents a critical memory access issue within the Liblouis braille translation library version 3.2.0. This library serves as a fundamental component for braille text processing and translation across various operating systems and applications, making the flaw particularly concerning from a security perspective. The vulnerability manifests specifically within the _lou_getALine function located in the compileTranslationTable.c source file at line 346, where improper memory handling creates opportunities for unauthorized access patterns that could be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate bounds checking and memory management within the translation table compilation process. When the _lou_getALine function processes input data for braille translation tables, it fails to properly validate array indices or buffer boundaries before accessing memory locations. This oversight creates a potential for out-of-bounds memory access, which can result in reading or writing to unauthorized memory regions. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions, and can potentially lead to information disclosure, denial of service, or in more severe cases, arbitrary code execution depending on the system configuration and exploitation vector.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as Liblouis is widely integrated into accessibility tools, operating system components, and assistive technologies that rely on proper braille translation capabilities. When exploited, the vulnerability could allow attackers to manipulate the translation process, potentially causing applications to crash or behave unpredictably. In environments where braille translation is critical for accessibility, such as educational institutions, government agencies, or enterprise systems, this flaw could disrupt essential services and compromise system stability. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in server environments where the library might process untrusted input from multiple sources, as it could enable remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to system resources or information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-13738 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems with updated versions of Liblouis that contain proper bounds checking and memory validation mechanisms. System administrators should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the vulnerable library across their infrastructure, particularly focusing on applications that handle user-supplied braille translation data. The implementation of input validation controls and sandboxing mechanisms can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Organizations should also consider monitoring for unusual memory access patterns or application crashes that might indicate exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving memory corruption and privilege escalation, making it important for security teams to implement comprehensive monitoring and incident response procedures. Regular security updates and vulnerability management processes should be enforced to prevent similar issues from arising in future versions of the library.