SQLite fts5ChunkIterate Function NULL Pointer Dereference Vulnerability [CVE-2019-9937]

CVE Number – CVE-2019-9937

A vulnerability in SQLite could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition on a targeted system. The vulnerability exists in the fts5ChunkIterate function, as defined in the sqlite3.c source code file of the affected software, and is due to improper memory operations. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending malicious requests to the targeted system. A successful exploit could trigger a NULL pointer dereference condition and cause the affected software to crash, resulting in a DoS condition. Proof-of-concept (PoC) code that demonstrates an exploit of this vulnerability is publicly available. SQLite has confirmed the vulnerability and released software updates.

Analysis

• To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must send a malicious request to the targeted system, making exploitation more difficult in environments that restrict network access from untrusted sources.

Safeguards

• Administrators are advised to apply the appropriate updates.Administrators are advised to allow only trusted users to have network access.Administrators are advised to run both firewall and antivirus applications to minimize the potential of inbound and outbound threats.Administrators may consider using IP-based access control lists (ACLs) to allow only trusted systems to access the affected systems.Administrators can help protect affected systems from external attacks by using a solid firewall strategy.Administrators are advised to monitor affected systems.

Vendor Announcements

• SQLite has released a comment at the following link: [sqlite] FTS5 Transaction Leads to NULL Pointer

Fixed Software

• SQLite has released a software patch at the following link: SQLite 3.27.2 patch