Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Leptonica 1.74.4 contains a command injection flaw. If an application lets a low-privileged local user influence the gplot rootname value passed into Leptonica, that user may be able to execute arbitrary commands with the application's privileges.
Executive priority
Treat as high priority for environments that embed Leptonica 1.74.4 in local processing workflows. Business risk is arbitrary code execution in affected applications, but urgency depends on whether untrusted local users can supply gplot path inputs.
Technical view
CVE-2018-3836 affects gplotMakeOutput in Leptonica 1.74.4. A specially crafted rootname/path argument can trigger command injection and arbitrary code execution. The CVSS 3.0 vector is local, high complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely in systems running Leptonica/leptonlib 1.74.4 where application code passes attacker-influenced path or rootname data into gplotMakeOutput. The source bundle does not identify broader affected versions or products.
Exploitation context
The provided sources describe exploitability but do not show active exploitation. The CVE is not listed as KEV in the supplied data. Successful exploitation requires a local, low-privileged attacker and a vulnerable application data flow into the affected function.
Researcher notes
Key validation is data-flow based: version presence alone is insufficient unless attacker-controlled rootname input reaches gplotMakeOutput. The sources do not provide active exploitation evidence, detailed affected-version range, or complete upstream fixed-version information in the supplied bundle.
Mitigation direction
- Apply vendor or distribution security updates for leptonlib/Leptonica.
- Prioritize Debian LTS guidance if using Debian-packaged leptonlib.
- Upgrade away from Leptonica 1.74.4 where vendor guidance confirms a fixed version.
- Restrict untrusted input from reaching gplot rootname/path handling.
- Review dependent applications that invoke gplotMakeOutput with user-controlled data.
Validation and detection
- Inventory installed Leptonica/leptonlib versions across servers and build images.
- Search application code for calls to gplotMakeOutput.
- Confirm whether rootname/path arguments can be influenced by low-privileged users.
- Check package advisory status against Debian DLA 1284-1 or vendor guidance.
- Run regression tests covering rejected unsafe path/rootname input.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
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Execution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2018-3836 mapping review
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Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7 (3.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H15.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.0 score
7HighVector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- [debian-lts-announce] 20180215 [SECURITY] [DLA 1284-1] leptonlib security updateCVE reference · mailing-list, x_refsource_MLIST
- https://www.talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2018-0516CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.