CVE-2007-4197 in The Slueth Kit
Summary
by MITRE
icat in Brian Carrier The Sleuth Kit (TSK) before 2.09 omits NULL pointer checks in certain code paths, which allows user-assisted remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL dereference and application crash) and prevent examination of certain NTFS files via a malformed NTFS image.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-4197 affects The Sleuth Kit (TSK) version 2.08 and earlier, specifically within the icat utility component. This flaw represents a classic null pointer dereference condition that occurs when the utility processes malformed NTFS file system images without proper input validation. The issue stems from inadequate error handling in critical code paths where the application fails to verify that pointers contain valid memory references before attempting to access them. The vulnerability specifically impacts the icat utility, which is designed for extracting and examining file contents from various file system images, making it a critical component for digital forensics investigations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves scenarios where TSK's icat tool encounters corrupted or malformed NTFS structures within disk images. When processing these invalid file system constructs, the application does not perform necessary null pointer checks before dereferencing memory addresses, leading to immediate application termination and system crash. This behavior manifests as a denial of service condition where legitimate forensic analysis operations are disrupted, preventing investigators from examining potentially critical NTFS file system data. The flaw is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through user-assisted remote attack vectors, meaning adversaries can craft specific malicious disk images that will cause the application to crash when processed.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability significantly impacts digital forensics workflows by creating potential points of failure in evidence examination processes. Security professionals and forensic investigators relying on TSK for NTFS file system analysis may encounter unexpected application crashes when processing compromised or corrupted disk images, potentially leading to loss of evidence or interrupted investigations. The vulnerability affects the availability and reliability of forensic tools, which can be particularly problematic in incident response scenarios where timely analysis is critical. Additionally, the denial of service condition prevents normal file extraction and examination operations, forcing analysts to either avoid problematic images or implement manual workarounds.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-476, which specifically addresses null pointer dereference conditions in software implementations. From an adversary perspective, this flaw fits within ATT&CK technique T1566 for social engineering and T1059 for command and script injection, as attackers could potentially leverage this weakness to disrupt forensic investigations or create false evidence of system compromise. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes, as it can be used to prevent legitimate forensic analysis and potentially hide malicious activities within compromised systems. Organizations utilizing TSK for digital forensics should prioritize patching this vulnerability to maintain the integrity and reliability of their investigative processes.
Mitigation strategies include immediate upgrade to TSK version 2.09 or later, which contains the necessary null pointer checks and input validation mechanisms. System administrators should also implement proper input sanitization procedures when processing disk images and consider deploying additional monitoring tools to detect application crashes during forensic analysis. Organizations should maintain updated forensic toolchains and regularly review their security patch management processes to ensure timely remediation of similar vulnerabilities. The fix implemented in version 2.09 demonstrates proper defensive programming practices that include comprehensive error handling and memory validation checks, which should serve as a model for similar security-sensitive applications in the digital forensics domain.