#VU55502 Heap-based buffer overflow in Aspell - CVE-2019-25051

Vulnerability identifier: #VU55502

Vulnerability risk: High

CVSSv4.0: 6.1 [CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U/U:Amber]

CVE-ID: CVE-2019-25051

CWE-ID: CWE-122

Exploitation vector: Network

Exploit availability: No

Vulnerable software:
Aspell
Universal components / Libraries / Libraries used by multiple products

Vendor: GNU

Description

The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the target system.

The vulnerability exists due to a boundary error within the acommon::ObjStack::dup_top (called from acommon::StringMap::add and acommon::Config::lookup_list). A remote attacker can trigger a heap-based buffer overflow and execute arbitrary code on the target system.

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability may result in complete compromise of vulnerable system.

Mitigation
Cybersecurity Help is currently unaware of any official solution to address this vulnerability.

Vulnerable software versions

Aspell: 0.60 - 0.60.8

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External links
https://github.com/gnuaspell/aspell/commit/0718b375425aad8e54e1150313b862e4c6fd324a
https://bugs.chromium.org/p/oss-fuzz/issues/detail?id=18462
https://github.com/google/oss-fuzz-vulns/blob/main/vulns/aspell/OSV-2020-521.yaml
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/07/msg00021.html
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/H7E4EI7F6TVN7K6XWU6HSANMCOKKEREE/

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Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

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

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

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