CVE-2008-7177 in NASM
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the listing module in Netwide Assembler (NASM) before 2.03.01 has unknown impact and attack vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2008-2719.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-7177 represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the listing module of Netwide Assembler version 2.03.00 and earlier. This issue affects a fundamental component of the assembler that generates listing files during the compilation process, making it a potential target for exploitation in environments where assembly code is processed and analyzed. The vulnerability is distinct from CVE-2008-2719, indicating separate attack surfaces and exploitation mechanisms within the NASM codebase. The buffer overflow occurs specifically within the listing module, which is responsible for creating human-readable output that includes source code alongside generated machine code, making it an integral part of the development workflow for assembly programmers.
The technical flaw manifests as an insufficient boundary check within the listing module's handling of input data, allowing an attacker to provide maliciously crafted input that exceeds the allocated buffer space. This condition enables arbitrary code execution or system instability when the assembler processes specially crafted assembly files that trigger the overflow during listing generation. The vulnerability's impact is classified as unknown due to the complexity of determining all potential attack vectors and the specific conditions under which exploitation might occur, but it represents a significant security risk given the nature of buffer overflows in compilation tools. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and may also relate to CWE-787, concerning out-of-bounds write operations. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it affects the assembler itself rather than the compiled output, meaning that simply processing assembly code through NASM could expose systems to compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-7177 extends beyond simple system crashes or instability, as it could enable attackers to execute arbitrary code on systems where NASM is installed and used to process assembly files. This vulnerability particularly affects development environments, build servers, and automated assembly processing systems where NASM is utilized. Attackers could potentially craft assembly source files that, when processed by the vulnerable version of NASM, would trigger the buffer overflow and allow for privilege escalation or remote code execution depending on how the assembler is invoked. The vulnerability's exploitation requires the target system to process the malicious input through NASM, which means it could be leveraged in scenarios involving untrusted assembly code processing, such as code review systems, automated build environments, or collaborative development platforms that utilize NASM for compilation. This attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.006, which describes execution through command and scripting interpreter, and may also relate to T1078.004 for legitimate program execution.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-7177 focus primarily on upgrading to NASM version 2.03.01 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the buffer overflow condition. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all systems running NASM are updated to the secure version, particularly in development and build environments. Additionally, input validation measures should be implemented when processing assembly code through NASM, including restricting input size limits and sanitizing assembly source files before processing. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in NASM usage or attempts to process suspicious assembly files, as this vulnerability could be used in targeted attacks against development environments. System administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of vulnerable versions of NASM and ensure that only trusted assembly code is processed through the assembler. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of secure coding practices in development tools, particularly in components that handle user input, and highlights the need for regular security assessments of compilation and assembly tools used in software development pipelines.