CVE-2017-14108 in gedit
Summary
by MITRE
libgedit.a in GNOME gedit through 3.22.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption) via a file that begins with many '\0' characters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14108 resides within the libgedit.a library component of the GNOME gedit text editor suite, affecting versions through 3.22.1. This issue represents a denial of service condition that specifically targets the application's CPU consumption behavior when processing specially crafted files. The flaw manifests when gedit encounters a file that begins with numerous null character sequences, causing the editor to consume excessive computational resources during the parsing and rendering process. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and resource management within the text processing pipeline of the gedit application, particularly in how it handles null character sequences at file beginnings.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability operates through a resource exhaustion attack vector where the application's parsing logic becomes trapped in inefficient processing loops when encountering high concentrations of null characters. The libgedit.a library, which provides core text editing functionality, fails to implement proper bounds checking or early termination conditions for null character sequences, leading to unbounded CPU consumption. This behavior aligns with CWE-400, which categorizes unchecked resource consumption as a fundamental weakness in software design. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics of a computational complexity attack where the time required to process the input grows exponentially with the number of null characters, making it particularly dangerous in environments where automated processing or batch operations are common.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-14108 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially enable more sophisticated attack scenarios. Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability to consume system resources on targeted systems, potentially leading to system instability or denial of service for legitimate users. The vulnerability affects any system running affected versions of gedit, making it particularly concerning in enterprise environments where text editors are frequently used for document processing. The attack requires minimal privileges and can be executed remotely, as the malicious file can be delivered through various means including email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing systems. This vulnerability also intersects with ATT&CK technique T1499.001, which describes resource exhaustion attacks targeting system services and applications, making it relevant to both defensive and offensive cybersecurity operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate version updates to patched releases of gedit and GNOME applications, as well as implementing input validation controls at network boundaries. System administrators should consider deploying application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of vulnerable versions, while also implementing monitoring for unusual CPU consumption patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input sanitization and resource management in text processing applications, and serves as a reminder of the need for comprehensive testing of edge cases in file handling routines. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management systems to ensure timely deployment of security updates across all affected systems. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched versions to ensure that the fix does not introduce regressions in functionality while maintaining the security improvements.