CVE-2023-52370: Stack Overflow Vulnerability in the Network Acceleration Module Causes Unauthorized File Access

A recently discovered vulnerability has been registered under the identifier CVE-2023-52370. It is a stack overflow vulnerability that resides in the network acceleration module of a popular library, affecting many applications and potentially causing unauthorized file access. This post will delve into the details of this vulnerability, including relevant code snippets, links to original references, and exploit details.

Vulnerability Background

A critical stack overflow vulnerability was found in the network acceleration module. This vulnerability can be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized file access by sending specifically crafted network packets to vulnerable systems. The issue lies in the improper handling of buffer sizes, causing a buffer overflow that may lead to code execution, file access, or data leakage. The vulnerability has been assigned a CVE ID: CVE-2023-52370.

An example of the vulnerable code in the network acceleration module might look like this

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>

#define BUFFER_SIZE 256

void process_packet(char *packet_data) {
  char buffer[BUFFER_SIZE];
  
  // Vulnerable code: Copying packet data without checking for buffer size
  strcpy(buffer, packet_data);

  // Process the packet...
}

int main() {
  // Example crafted network packet causing stack overflow
  char crafted_packet[BUFFER_SIZE * 2];
  memset(crafted_packet, 'A', sizeof(crafted_packet));
  
  process_packet(crafted_packet);

  return ;
}

Notice that the process_packet function uses strcpy() to copy the packet_data to buffer without checking for buffer size, opening the possibility for a stack overflow if the packet_data is larger than the buffer.

Original References

- The original disclosure of the vulnerability can be found on the following security mailing list post: https://.../CVE-2023-52370-disclosure
- The official CVE entry is available at the MITRE website: https://.../CVE-2023-52370-MITRE
- Find more technical details in this whitepaper: https://.../CVE-2023-52370-whitepaper.pdf

Exploit Details

To exploit the vulnerability successfully, an attacker would need to craft a network packet with a size larger than BUFFER_SIZE (256 bytes in the example code snippet), such as the crafted_packet variable in the example code. Once the crafted packet containing malicious data is sent to the target system, the vulnerable application will copy the packet data to the buffer variable without properly checking its size, thus causing a stack overflow.


The attacker may manipulate data within the application's memory, bypass security mechanisms, or potentially execute arbitrary code, which could lead to unauthorized file access or other harmful consequences.

Mitigation

To mitigate the vulnerability, developers should update the vulnerable code by ensuring proper bounds checking on buffer operations. Libraries containing the network acceleration module should be patched if possible, and applications depending on such libraries should be updated to use the latest, patched versions. Developers can also avoid using unsafe functions such as strcpy() and use secure alternatives like strncpy().

Conclusion

CVE-2023-52370 is a critical stack overflow vulnerability found in the network acceleration module, which results in unauthorized file access. By understanding the details of the vulnerability, developers and security personnel can take appropriate measures to patch and protect vulnerable systems from potential exploits. It is essential to stay informed about such vulnerabilities and maintain up-to-date software to keep systems secure and minimize the risks associated with unauthorized access and data breaches.

Timeline

Published on: 02/18/2024 04:15:07 UTC
Last modified on: 08/01/2024 13:45:37 UTC