CVE-2004-2160 in Command Line Xml Toolkit
Summary
by MITRE
Format string vulnerability in xml_elem.c for XMLStarlet Command Line XML Toolkit 0.9.3 may allow attackers to cause a denial of service or execute arbitrary code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/17/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2160 represents a critical format string flaw within the XMLStarlet command line toolkit version 0.9.3, specifically located in the xml_elem.c source file. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-134, which describes the use of format strings without proper validation, making it a prime target for both denial of service attacks and arbitrary code execution. The XMLStarlet toolkit is widely used for processing and manipulating xml data from the command line, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could affect numerous systems and applications that rely on xml parsing capabilities.
The technical exploitation of this format string vulnerability occurs when the application processes user-supplied input through the xml_elem.c component without proper sanitization of format specifiers. When an attacker can influence the input that gets processed by the vulnerable function, they can inject format specifiers such as %s, %x, or %n which can lead to memory corruption and potential code execution. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows attackers to manipulate the program's execution flow, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected process. This type of vulnerability is classified under the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables attackers to execute malicious commands through manipulated input processing.
The operational impact of CVE-2004-2160 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can cause the application to crash, leading to denial of service, or more critically, execute arbitrary code on the target system. The vulnerability affects systems running XMLStarlet 0.9.3 and earlier versions, making it particularly dangerous for environments where this toolkit is extensively used for xml processing tasks. The attack surface is broad as any application or script that utilizes XMLStarlet for xml manipulation could be vulnerable to this exploit, especially when processing untrusted xml input from external sources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the XMLStarlet toolkit to version 0.9.4 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the format string vulnerability. Organizations should also implement input validation measures to sanitize all xml input before processing, particularly when dealing with external or untrusted data sources. Additional protective measures include running the XMLStarlet toolkit with minimal privileges, implementing proper access controls, and monitoring for unusual command line execution patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and format string handling in command line tools, as highlighted by industry standards that emphasize the need for secure coding practices to prevent such memory corruption vulnerabilities that can lead to privilege escalation and system compromise.