CVE-2007-4476 in tar
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the safer_name_suffix function in GNU tar has unspecified attack vectors and impact, resulting in a "crashing stack."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-4476 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the GNU tar archival utility that specifically affects the safer_name_suffix function. This issue manifests as a stack corruption vulnerability that can lead to arbitrary code execution or system instability. The flaw occurs when processing archive names that exceed predetermined buffer limits, creating a condition where maliciously crafted input can overwrite adjacent memory locations on the program stack. The unspecified attack vectors indicate that the vulnerability can potentially be exploited through multiple entry points within the tar utility's processing pipeline, making it particularly dangerous for automated exploitation. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple program crashes, as it can enable attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the tar command, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The technical nature of this buffer overflow aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability specifically affects the safer_name_suffix function, which is responsible for processing and validating file names during archive operations. When the function processes input that exceeds the allocated buffer space, the excess data overflows into adjacent stack memory, potentially corrupting return addresses and other critical program state information. This type of stack-based buffer overflow creates opportunities for attackers to redirect program execution flow through return-oriented programming techniques or direct code injection, particularly in environments where stack execution protection mechanisms are not fully implemented.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-4476 extends significantly across various system administration and security operations contexts. System administrators face potential compromise of backup and archival systems where GNU tar is commonly employed, as attackers can exploit this vulnerability during normal archive creation or extraction operations. The vulnerability's presence in a widely used utility like GNU tar means that any system running tar for backup operations, software distribution, or file management presents an attack surface that can be exploited without requiring specialized knowledge of the target system. This makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to automated exploitation tools and increases the risk to organizations that rely heavily on tar-based workflows for their operations. The unspecified attack vectors indicate that the vulnerability could be triggered through various input scenarios including compressed archives, symbolic links, or specially crafted file names that cause the safer_name_suffix function to process oversized inputs.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected GNU tar installations, as the vulnerability represents a critical security risk that can be exploited with relatively simple attack vectors. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring for any suspicious tar operations that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly around archive creation and extraction activities. The implementation of stack protection mechanisms such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and non-executable stack protections can provide additional defense layers against exploitation attempts. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected versions of GNU tar and ensure that proper input validation is implemented in any custom scripts or applications that utilize tar functionality. According to ATT&CK framework category T1059, command and scripting interpreter techniques, this vulnerability could enable attackers to establish persistent access through compromised tar utilities, making it essential for security teams to monitor for unusual tar behavior and implement principle of least privilege controls for tar execution permissions.