CVE-2018-11577 in Liblouis
Summary
by MITRE
Liblouis 3.5.0 has a Segmentation fault in lou_logPrint in logging.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2018-11577 represents a critical segmentation fault within Liblouis version 3.5.0, specifically occurring in the lou_logPrint function located in logging.c. This issue manifests as a denial of service condition that can be exploited by malicious actors to disrupt the normal operation of applications relying on this library. The flaw stems from improper handling of logging operations where the function fails to validate input parameters before attempting to process them, creating a scenario where malformed or unexpected input data can trigger a system crash. This vulnerability affects systems that utilize Liblouis for braille translation and text processing, particularly those in accessibility applications and assistive technology platforms where reliable operation is paramount.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-20, which covers input validation issues. The segmentation fault occurs when the lou_logPrint function attempts to access memory locations that have not been properly allocated or validated, typically due to insufficient bounds checking or null pointer dereference scenarios. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious input data that causes the logging function to attempt operations on invalid memory addresses, leading to immediate system termination. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with the attack pattern described in the ATT&CK framework under T1499.004, which involves network denial of service attacks through resource exhaustion or system crashes.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-11577 extends beyond simple system crashes to potentially compromise the availability of accessibility services that depend on Liblouis. Applications using this library for braille translation, text-to-speech conversion, or other assistive technologies could experience unexpected termination, leading to user frustration and potential data loss. This vulnerability particularly affects systems in educational institutions, government agencies, and corporate environments where accessibility compliance is mandatory. The flaw can be exploited remotely through network-based input processing, making it especially dangerous in web applications or services that process user-submitted content through the Liblouis library. Organizations running systems with vulnerable versions of Liblouis face significant risk of service disruption and potential compliance violations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of Liblouis to version 3.6.0 or later where the issue has been resolved through proper input validation and memory management improvements. System administrators should implement comprehensive monitoring of applications using Liblouis to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish robust input sanitization procedures. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application-level sandboxing or containerization to limit the impact of potential exploitation, ensuring that even if an attacker successfully triggers the vulnerability, the broader system remains protected. The fix addresses the underlying memory access issues by adding proper bounds checking and null pointer validation within the logging subsystem, preventing the segmentation fault from occurring when unexpected input data is processed.