CVE-2003-0453 in traceroute-nanog
Summary
by MITRE
traceroute-nanog 6.1.1 allows local users to overwrite unauthorized memory and possibly execute arbitrary code via certain "nprobes" and "max_ttl" arguments that cause an integer overflow that is used when allocating memory, which leads to a buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/28/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-0453 affects traceroute-nanog version 6.1.1 and represents a critical memory corruption issue that arises from improper input validation during memory allocation processes. This flaw manifests when specific command-line arguments named "nprobes" and "max_ttl" are provided to the traceroute utility, creating conditions that enable attackers to manipulate memory allocation behavior through integer overflow mechanisms. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of software security and memory management, where the application fails to properly validate user-supplied integer values before using them in memory allocation calculations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a well-defined sequence of events that begins with the parsing of user-provided arguments. When the "nprobes" and "max_ttl" parameters exceed certain thresholds, they trigger integer overflow conditions within the application's memory management routines. This overflow results in the calculation of incorrect memory allocation sizes, which subsequently leads to buffer overflow conditions when the application attempts to allocate memory for packet processing operations. The flaw specifically targets the application's ability to handle large integer values that exceed the maximum representable value for the data type being used, causing the arithmetic operation to wrap around to a much smaller value.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it provides local attackers with the potential to execute arbitrary code on the affected system. This represents a significant escalation from a mere denial of service condition to a full privilege escalation vector that could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to system resources. The buffer overflow conditions created by the integer overflow can be leveraged to overwrite critical memory locations, potentially including return addresses, function pointers, or other control structures that govern program execution flow. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is primarily limited to local users who have access to execute the traceroute-nanog utility, but the implications remain severe given that such utilities are commonly available on network administration systems. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by carefully crafting the "nprobes" and "max_ttl" arguments to cause the integer overflow, which then translates into memory corruption that can be manipulated to achieve code execution. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which involves the execution of malicious code through command-line interfaces, and T1068, which addresses privilege escalation through local system exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the traceroute-nanog utility to address the integer overflow conditions in memory allocation handling. System administrators should implement proper input validation procedures that check for integer overflow conditions before any memory allocation operations occur. Additionally, the implementation of address space layout randomization and stack canaries can provide additional protection layers against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of secure coding practices, particularly around integer arithmetic and memory management, as recommended by industry standards such as the CERT Secure Coding Standards and OWASP Secure Coding Practices. Organizations should conduct thorough code reviews to identify similar integer overflow patterns in other network utilities and system tools that may be susceptible to similar attacks.