CVE-2024-24198: SmartDNS Commit 54b4dc Misaligned Address Vulnerability Discovered in smartdns/src/util.c

TL;DR: Significant security vulnerability in SmartDNS commit 54b4dc has been discovered that involves misaligned address issues in smartdns/src/util.c. This vulnerability in SmartDNS compromises the integrity and stability of the DNS server. The exploit details, original references, and code snippets are discussed below to increase awareness and provide insight into resolving the issue.

Exploring the CVE-2024-24198 Vulnerability

A security vulnerability with the identifier CVE-2024-24198 has been discovered in the commit version 54b4dc of SmartDNS. This vulnerability is concerning a misaligned address within the "smartdns/src/util.c" module, which may lead to unpredictable behavior and severely affect the stability and integrity of the DNS server.

Commit 54b4dc is the affected version, and it can be found on the GitHub repository of SmartDNS here

GitHub commit 54b4dc

The root cause of the issue is a misaligned memory address in the util.c module that might be exploited to launch potential attacks, leading to server crashes or unauthorized information retrieval.

Code Snippet Illustrating the Issue

The vulnerability was identified in the "smartdns/src/util.c" file, and can be localized in the following code snippet:

void *aligned_memory_pointer(void *ptr) {
    uintptr_t aligned_address;
    aligned_address = (uintptr_t) ptr;
    aligned_address = (aligned_address + ALIGN_SIZE - 1) & ~(ALIGN_SIZE - 1);
    return (void *) aligned_address;
}

This code is designed to return an aligned memory pointer from a given memory address pointer ptr. The error is in how the aligned_address variable is calculated, which may cause it to be misaligned under certain conditions.

Exploit Details

Taking advantage of the misaligned address issue in CVE-2024-24198 could lead to server crashes, denial of service attacks, and unauthorized access to sensitive information. Attackers who exploit this vulnerability might manipulate the memory allocation process to launch harmful actions that jeopardize the security of the DNS server.

Due to the severity of CVE-2024-24198, all SmartDNS users must be made aware of this vulnerability and take necessary precautions to avoid potential risks.

Original References

Here is the list of original references where you can learn more about the CVE-2024-24198 vulnerability:

1. SmartDNS GitHub Repository - SmartDNS on GitHub
2. SmartDNS Commit 54b4dc - GitHub commit 54b4dc
3. CVE-2024-24198 Details - CVE-2024-24198 MITRE record
4. National Vulnerability Database (NVD) - CVE-2024-24198 NVD entry

Conclusion and Recommendations

In summary, CVE-2024-24198 is a critical vulnerability involving a misaligned memory address in the SmartDNS commit version 54b4dc. Users are advised to stay informed, keep an eye on updates from the developers, and ensure they apply the necessary patches once available. By addressing this vulnerability, SmartDNS developers are taking steps to ensure that their DNS servers remain stable, secure, and reliable.

Lastly, users and system administrators are encouraged to conduct regular security audits, patch their systems, and use security best practices to minimize the impact of potential vulnerabilities.

Timeline

Published on: 06/06/2024 22:15:10 UTC
Last modified on: 10/29/2024 18:45:47 UTC