CVE-2005-4895 in gperftools
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple integer overflows in TCMalloc (tcmalloc.cc) in gperftools before 0.4 make it easier for context-dependent attackers to perform memory-related attacks such as buffer overflows via a large size value, which causes less memory to be allocated than expected.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/18/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4895 represents a critical memory safety issue within Google Perftools' TCMalloc memory allocator implementation. This flaw exists in the tcmalloc.cc source file of gperftools versions prior to 0.4 and creates a pathway for attackers to manipulate memory allocation behavior through carefully crafted input values. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of integer overflow conditions during memory allocation calculations, specifically when processing large size values that exceed the maximum representable integer values within the system's architecture.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves integer overflows occurring during the calculation of memory allocation requests within the TCMalloc system. When an attacker provides a large size value that triggers integer overflow conditions, the memory allocator performs incorrect arithmetic operations that result in insufficient memory being allocated compared to what was requested. This creates a situation where the system allocates less memory than expected, leaving memory regions vulnerable to overflow conditions that can be exploited by malicious actors. The flaw operates at the intersection of memory management and integer arithmetic, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged to bypass memory protection mechanisms and execute arbitrary code.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables context-dependent attackers to perform sophisticated memory-related attacks that could lead to system compromise. The reduced memory allocation creates opportunities for buffer overflow conditions that attackers can exploit to overwrite adjacent memory regions, potentially leading to code execution, privilege escalation, or denial of service conditions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates silently during normal operation, making detection difficult until exploitation occurs. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and availability of systems relying on gperftools for memory management, especially in environments where memory allocation patterns are unpredictable or under attack.
The vulnerability maps to CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow and underflow conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1055 for process injection and memory manipulation. Organizations using affected versions of gperftools should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to version 0.4 or later where the integer overflow handling has been corrected. Additional protective measures include implementing memory allocation validation checks, deploying address space layout randomization, and establishing monitoring for anomalous memory allocation patterns. System administrators should also consider implementing application sandboxing and privilege separation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper integer overflow handling in memory management systems and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of core system libraries that handle memory allocation operations.