CVE-2002-1200 in syslog-ng
Summary
by MITRE
Balabit Syslog-NG 1.4.x before 1.4.15, and 1.5.x before 1.5.20, when using template filenames or output, does not properly track the size of a buffer when constant characters are encountered during macro expansion, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-1200 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw affecting Balabit Syslog-NG versions 1.4.x prior to 1.4.15 and 1.5.x prior to 1.5.20. This issue manifests during the processing of template filenames and output operations where the system fails to properly monitor buffer boundaries when macro expansion encounters constant characters. The flaw exists within the syslog-ng daemon's handling of template expansion mechanisms, creating a scenario where attacker-controlled input can manipulate buffer allocation and memory management during log processing operations. The vulnerability specifically targets the way the software manages memory when processing template strings that contain macros, particularly when these macros expand to include constant character sequences that trigger improper buffer boundary calculations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through carefully crafted template filenames or output configurations that, when processed by the syslog-ng daemon, cause the buffer tracking mechanism to miscalculate available space. This miscalculation leads to buffer overflows that can result in memory corruption, ultimately allowing remote attackers to either crash the syslog-ng service or potentially execute arbitrary code on the affected system. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, which is a fundamental memory safety issue that has been consistently identified as a critical threat vector in cybersecurity. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation and memory management practices within the syslog-ng template processing subsystem, where the software assumes proper buffer boundaries without adequate verification of input size constraints during macro expansion operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it creates a potential attack vector for remote code execution that could compromise the entire logging infrastructure of a system. When exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to disrupt syslog-ng services, potentially leading to loss of critical log data and complete system availability issues. The attack surface is particularly concerning because syslog-ng is widely deployed across enterprise environments as a core logging solution, making this vulnerability a high-impact threat for organizations relying on proper log management. The vulnerability affects not only individual system availability but also undermines the integrity of the logging infrastructure, which is crucial for security monitoring, compliance auditing, and incident response activities. Organizations using affected versions of syslog-ng face significant risk of service disruption and potential unauthorized access to their logging systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1200 should prioritize immediate patching of affected syslog-ng versions to the recommended secure releases 1.4.15 and 1.5.20. System administrators should implement network segmentation to limit exposure of syslog-ng services to untrusted networks and consider disabling unnecessary template processing features when possible. Additionally, monitoring and logging of template processing operations should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1070.004 for Indicator Removal on Host and T1499.004 for Endpoint Denial of Service, as it enables both service disruption and potential code execution. Organizations should also implement proper input validation controls and consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify malicious template configurations. Regular security assessments of logging infrastructure and maintaining up-to-date security patches remain essential defensive measures against this and similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities in system logging components.