#VU41835 Heap-based buffer overflow in elfutils - CVE-2014-0172

Vulnerability identifier: #VU41835

Vulnerability risk: Medium

CVSSv4.0: 2.7 [CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U/U:Green]

CVE-ID: CVE-2014-0172

CWE-ID: CWE-122

Exploitation vector: Network

Exploit availability: No

Vulnerable software:
elfutils
Server applications / File servers (FTP/HTTP)

Vendor: Sourceware

Description

The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the target system.

The vulnerability exists due to a boundary error in Integer overflow in the check_section function in dwarf_begin_elf.c in the libdw library, as used in elfutils 0.153 and possibly through 0.158. A remote attacker can use a malformed compressed debug section in an ELF file to trigger heap-based buffer overflow and execute arbitrary code on the target system.

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability may result in complete compromise of vulnerable system.

Mitigation
Cybersecurity Help is currently unaware of any official solution to address this vulnerability.

Vulnerable software versions

elfutils: 0.153 - 0.158

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External links
https://seclists.org/oss-sec/2014/q2/54
https://www.securityfocus.com/bid/66714
https://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2188-1
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1085663
https://lists.fedorahosted.org/pipermail/elfutils-devel/2014-April/003921.html
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201612-32

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Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

Yes. This vulnerability can be exploited by a remote non-authenticated attacker via the Internet.

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

No. We are not aware of malware exploiting this vulnerability.