#VU43908 Heap-based buffer overflow in PHP - CVE-2012-2386

Vulnerability identifier: #VU43908

Vulnerability risk: Medium

CVSSv4.0: 5.5 [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:P/U:Green]

CVE-ID: CVE-2012-2386

CWE-ID: CWE-122

Exploitation vector: Network

Exploit availability: Yes

Vulnerable software:
PHP
Universal components / Libraries / Scripting languages

Vendor: PHP Group

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 phar_parse_tarfile function in tar.c in the phar extension in PHP before 5.3.14 and 5.4.x before 5.4.4. A remote attacker can use a crafted tar file that triggers a heap-based buffer overflow. 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

PHP: 1.0, 2.0b10, 2.0, 3.0 - 3.0.18, 4.0 - 4.0.7, 4.1.0 - 4.1.2, 4.2.0 - 4.2.3, 4.3.0 - 4.3.11, 4.4.0 - 4.4.9, 5.0.0 - 5.0.5, 5.1.0 - 5.1.6, 5.2.0 - 5.2.17, 5.3.0 - 5.3.11, 5.4.0 - 5.4.2

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External links
https://0x1byte.blogspot.com/2011/04/php-phar-extension-heap-overflow.html
https://git.php.net/?p=php-src.git;a=commit;h=158d8a6b088662ce9d31e0c777c6ebe90efdc854
https://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2012/Sep/msg00004.html
https://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2012-07/msg00003.html
https://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2012/05/22/10
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT5501
https://www.php.net/ChangeLog-5.php
https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=61065
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=823594

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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. However, proof of concept for this vulnerability is available.