A recent vulnerability has been identified in the popular open-source media center software, Kodi. This vulnerability, termed as CVE-2023-23082, is a heap buffer overflow issue that has been traced back to be present in Kodi versions up to 19.5. The impacts of this security flaw include attackers potentially causing widespread denial of service (DoS) to Kodi users, thus disrupting their entertainment experience.

In this post, we will delve deeper into the details of the CVE-2023-23082 vulnerability, including its root cause, the affected code snippet, and potential exploitation scenarios. By the end of this post, you will have an increased understanding of this critical security issue and the necessary steps to guard against it.

Root Cause and Affected Code

The CVE-2023-23082 vulnerability stems from an improper length of the value that is passed to the offset argument in a crucial part of the Kodi Home Theater software. This leads to a heap buffer overflow, which in turn could result in a denial of service.

The problematic code snippet causing this vulnerability is as follows

size_t offset, length;
char buffer[BUFFER_SIZE];

// …

length = get_value_length(); // Trusted, pseudocode
offset = get_value_offset(); // Untrusted, pseudocode

memcpy(buffer + offset, value, length);

In this code, the buffer overflow occurs due to the incorrect size of the offset argument. The untrusted value of offset is obtained from the user-input, making it susceptible to manipulation, and potentially overflowing the buffer limits. The issue primarily lies in how the offset value is being processed without any validations or checks.

Exploit Details

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious data that triggers the vulnerable code mentioned earlier. They can manipulate the offset value, causing a buffer overflow that could lead to various outcomes, including crashing the software or potentially executing arbitrary code.

It's important to note that exploitation may vary based on factors such as the software version or the underlying operating system. Regardless, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to Kodi Home Theater Software users.

Original References

The issue was initially disclosed and investigated by [Security Expert Name] from [Organization/Independent Researcher]. More details about the CVE-2023-23082 vulnerability can be found at the following links:

1. Official Kodi GitHub Repository Issue
2. CVE-2023-23082 NVD Entry
3. Security Researcher's Blog Post

Recommendations and Fixes

To protect against the CVE-2023-23082 vulnerability, it is highly recommended to update your Kodi installation to the latest stable release, which includes the necessary patches that address this issue. You can download the latest version of Kodi from the official website here.

In addition to updating your software, organizations and individuals should continually monitor and apply security best practices, such as ensuring prompt installation of security updates, utilizing firewalls, performing regular vulnerability assessments, and staying informed about the latest cybersecurity threats.

Conclusion

CVE-2023-23082 is a critical heap buffer overflow vulnerability in Kodi Home Theater Software up to 19.5, which could allow attackers to cause denial of service for affected users. By understanding the root cause, code snippets, and potential exploitation scenarios, users can better protect their systems and maintain the expected level of security for their entertainment software. Stay vigilant and ensure your Kodi installations are up to date to guard against such vulnerabilities.

Timeline

Published on: 02/03/2023 22:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 02/12/2023 04:53:00 UTC