CVE-2024-33899 - RARLAB WinRAR Security Vulnerability on Linux and UNIX Platforms

CVE-2024-33899 is a security vulnerability discovered in RARLAB WinRAR, a popular archiving and compression tool, specifically affecting the versions before 7.00 on Linux and UNIX platforms. The vulnerability allows cyber attackers to spoof the content of the screen output, potentially deceiving users into executing malicious code or revealing sensitive information. Additionally, attackers can use this vulnerability to cause a denial of service (DoS), leading to service disruptions and data corruption.

In this long-read post, we will delve into the details of this security vulnerability, including examining code snippets, providing links to original references, and discussing possible exploits.

Vulnerability Details

The CVE-2024-33899 vulnerability lies in RARLAB WinRAR's handling of ANSI escape sequences, which are character sequences used to control the cursor's movement, text formatting, and other terminal functions. The software lacks proper validation and sanitization of the input files, allowing attackers to embed ANSI escape sequences within archive filenames. Thus, when WinRAR processes such files, the escape sequences can be executed by the terminal or console application, leading to unintended screen content manipulation and denial of service attacks.

Code Snippet

Here is a sample code snippet that highlights how the vulnerability can be exploited using ANSI escape sequences within a compressed file:

import os

attack_filename = "\x1b[31mMalicious Archive.rar\x1b[m" # ANSI escape sequence to change text color to red
os.system(f"touch {attack_filename}")
os.system(f"rar a {attack_filename} innocent_file.txt")

The above code creates a file with an ANSI escape sequence embedded within its filename and then compresses it using WinRAR. When the file is processed by WinRAR, the terminal or console application will execute the escape sequence, causing the filename to be displayed in red color (or any other effect specified by the attacker).

Original References

1. RARLAB's official advisory on the vulnerability: https://www.rarlab.com/security/CVE-2024-33899
2. CVE information on the National Vulnerability Database: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-33899
3. Mitre's CVE entry on the vulnerability: https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2024-33899

Screen Spoofing

Attackers may use the ANSI escape sequences to manipulate the terminal's output, making it appear as if an error has occurred or the contents have been decrypted. Such false impressions can lead users to disclose sensitive information, execute malicious code, or even download and run rogue software.

Denial of Service Attack

By embedding specific ANSI escape sequences within archive filenames, attackers can crash the terminal or console applications when WinRAR processes the file, leading to a denial of service attack. This can hinder system processes, cause data corruption, and disrupt essential operations for users and organizations alike.

Conclusion

CVE-2024-33899 is a severe vulnerability in RARLAB WinRAR affecting Linux and UNIX platforms that can lead to significant repercussions for users and organizations. It's imperative to ensure that the software used is updated to the latest versions and apply patches as soon as they become available. Additionally, it's crucial to follow the best security practices, such as validating input and output data, to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.

Timeline

Published on: 04/29/2024 00:15:07 UTC
Last modified on: 08/02/2024 02:42:59 UTC