CVE-2004-2644 in ASN.1 Compiler
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in ASN.1 Compiler (asn1c) before 0.9.7 has unknown impact and attack vectors when processing "ANY" type tags.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/19/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2644 resides within the ASN.1 Compiler (asn1c) software version 0.9.6 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw in the processing of ASN.1 "ANY" type tags. This issue falls under the category of unspecified vulnerability, indicating that the exact nature of the security flaw was not fully detailed in the initial reporting. The ASN.1 Compiler is a crucial tool used to generate C code from ASN.1 specifications, which are fundamental to telecommunications and networking protocols. When the compiler encounters "ANY" type tags in ASN.1 specifications, it processes these tags in a manner that introduces potential security risks. The "ANY" type in ASN.1 represents a flexible data type that can hold any ASN.1 value, making it particularly useful for representing variable-length data structures. However, this flexibility also introduces complexity in processing and validation, which becomes problematic when the compiler fails to properly handle such constructs. The vulnerability manifests when the compiler processes ASN.1 specifications containing "ANY" type tags, potentially leading to buffer overflows, memory corruption, or other exploitable conditions. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because ASN.1 is widely used in critical infrastructure systems, including telecommunications protocols, network security systems, and various enterprise applications. The impact of such a vulnerability could be severe, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code on systems that rely on the compiler for generating ASN.1 processing code. The attack vectors remain unspecified, but they likely involve malicious ASN.1 specifications that could be crafted to exploit the compiler's handling of "ANY" type tags. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and may also relate to CWE-122, which covers buffer overflow conditions in stack-based memory. The issue also corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1059, where adversaries might exploit compiler vulnerabilities to gain code execution privileges. The lack of specific details about the vulnerability's impact and attack vectors makes this particularly concerning for security professionals who must assess and protect systems using this compiler. Organizations relying on ASN.1-based systems for critical operations face significant risk if they have not updated to version 0.9.7 or later, which was specifically designed to address this vulnerability.
The technical flaw in the ASN.1 Compiler stems from inadequate validation and processing of "ANY" type tags within ASN.1 specifications. When the compiler encounters these tags, it fails to properly validate the input data structures, leading to potential memory corruption issues during code generation. The "ANY" type in ASN.1 is designed to accept any valid ASN.1 value, but the compiler's handling of this flexibility creates a potential attack surface. The vulnerability occurs during the compilation phase when the tool generates C code from ASN.1 specifications, specifically when processing constructs that involve "ANY" type tags. This flaw represents a classic case of insufficient input validation, where the compiler does not adequately check the boundaries and constraints of data structures before generating executable code. The processing of "ANY" type tags involves complex data type resolution and memory allocation that, when not properly managed, can result in exploitable conditions. The vulnerability's nature suggests that it may involve improper handling of variable-length data structures, where the compiler's memory management routines fail to account for the full range of possible values that "ANY" types can represent. This issue demonstrates the importance of robust input validation in security-critical tools, as compilers that generate code for systems handling sensitive data must be thoroughly vetted for potential vulnerabilities. The flaw likely involves improper bounds checking or memory allocation routines that do not adequately account for the potential size variations of "ANY" type data. This vulnerability type is particularly insidious because it occurs during the compilation process rather than at runtime, meaning that an attacker could potentially inject malicious code into the compilation environment itself.
The operational impact of CVE-2004-2644 extends far beyond simple code generation failures, as it affects the fundamental security posture of systems relying on ASN.1-based protocols. Organizations using affected versions of the ASN.1 Compiler face potential compromise of their entire infrastructure, as the vulnerability could be exploited to gain unauthorized code execution privileges. The attack surface is particularly broad given that ASN.1 is used extensively in telecommunications, network security protocols, and enterprise applications. Systems that depend on compiled ASN.1 code for network communications, authentication mechanisms, or data processing could be vulnerable to exploitation if attackers can influence the compilation process or if the compiler is used in environments where malicious ASN.1 specifications might be introduced. The vulnerability's potential for code execution makes it especially dangerous in environments where the compiler is used in automated build systems or continuous integration pipelines. The impact is further amplified by the fact that many security protocols rely on ASN.1 specifications, including protocols used in financial services, healthcare systems, and government communications. Organizations may be unaware of their exposure if they use the compiler in development environments or if they have not performed comprehensive security assessments of their compilation toolchains. The vulnerability also affects systems that process ASN.1 data directly, as the compiler's flaw may indicate broader issues in how the tool handles complex data structures. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where security is paramount, such as military applications, financial systems, or critical infrastructure protection systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-2644 focus primarily on updating to the patched version 0.9.7 or later of the ASN.1 Compiler, which specifically addresses the vulnerability in handling "ANY" type tags. Organizations should immediately assess their use of the affected compiler and implement the necessary updates to prevent exploitation. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive audits of their compilation toolchains to identify any other potentially vulnerable tools or systems that might be using older versions of the ASN.1 Compiler. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict input validation for ASN.1 specifications used in compilation processes, monitoring for unusual compilation activities, and ensuring that only trusted ASN.1 specifications are processed by the compiler. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing or isolation techniques for compilation environments to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security tooling and regularly reviewing the security posture of development environments. Security policies should include requirements for vulnerability assessment of compilation tools and regular updates to prevent similar issues from occurring. Organizations should also implement proper access controls for systems that perform ASN.1 compilation to prevent unauthorized modification of specifications or compiler usage. The remediation process should include thorough testing of updated compilers to ensure that the fix does not introduce new issues or break existing functionality. Given the nature of the vulnerability and its potential for code execution, organizations should also consider implementing additional runtime protections for systems that process ASN.1 data, such as memory protection mechanisms and runtime monitoring tools. The incident serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining security patches for development tools, as vulnerabilities in these tools can have far-reaching consequences for the entire software supply chain.