CVE-2008-2953 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
Linux DC++ (linuxdcpp) before 0.707 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via "partial file list requests" that trigger a NULL pointer dereference.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/14/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2953 affects Linux DC++ (linuxdcpp) versions prior to 0.707, representing a critical denial of service weakness that can be exploited remotely by malicious actors. This flaw specifically manifests when the application receives "partial file list requests" which are legitimate network communications used for sharing file metadata within the DC++ peer-to-peer network protocol. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the application's handling of these particular requests, creating a scenario where a carefully crafted malformed request can cause the application to crash and terminate unexpectedly.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-476, which describes NULL pointer dereference conditions in software implementations. When linuxdcpp processes partial file list requests, it fails to properly validate the structure and content of incoming data packets before attempting to access memory locations that may not have been properly initialized. This NULL pointer dereference occurs during the parsing and processing of file list metadata, where the application assumes certain data structures contain valid pointers while they may actually be null. The flaw exists in the application's protocol handling layer, specifically within the file list processing functions that manage how the software interprets and stores file metadata received from other peers in the network.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can be leveraged to create persistent denial of service conditions that affect the availability of the DC++ client software. Attackers can exploit this weakness by sending specially crafted partial file list requests to target systems, causing the application to crash repeatedly and forcing users to restart the software manually. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in peer-to-peer networks where multiple clients may be simultaneously connected, as a single malicious participant could potentially disrupt the entire network experience for other users. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not need physical access to the target system, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in open network environments.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates a classic weakness in protocol implementation that can be addressed through proper input validation and defensive programming practices. The issue can be mitigated through several approaches including immediate patching to version 0.707 or later, implementing network-level filtering to detect and block malformed partial file list requests, and enhancing the application's error handling mechanisms to gracefully manage unexpected input data. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect unusual patterns of client crashes or network traffic anomalies that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would fall under the T1499.004 technique for Network Denial of Service, and the remediation efforts should align with defensive cybersecurity practices that emphasize robust input validation and memory safety protocols.