CVE-2009-1284 in BibTeX
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in BibTeX 0.99 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption and crash) via a long .bib bibliography file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-1284 represents a classic buffer overflow condition within the BibTeX bibliography processing software version 0.99. This flaw exists in the handling of .bib files, which are commonly used in academic and scientific publishing environments for managing bibliographic references. The buffer overflow occurs when the software processes exceptionally long bibliography files, creating a scenario where attacker-controlled input can exceed the allocated memory buffer boundaries. This particular vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, where insufficient bounds checking allows arbitrary data to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as memory corruption can potentially lead to system instability or crashes during the processing of malformed bibliography data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the BibTeX parsing routine. When processing a maliciously crafted .bib file containing excessively long entries or malformed data structures, the application fails to properly validate the length of input data before copying it into fixed-size memory buffers. This allows attackers to inject data that exceeds the buffer capacity, causing the program to overwrite adjacent memory regions including stack canaries, return addresses, or other critical program state information. The vulnerability is context-dependent because it requires specific conditions to be met during the processing of bibliography files, particularly when dealing with unusually long entries that trigger the buffer overflow condition. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the ATT&CK matrix under the technique T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service, as the attack can effectively disrupt legitimate use of the bibliography processing software.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for academic institutions, research organizations, and publishing platforms that rely heavily on BibTeX for managing reference data. The denial of service impact can disrupt research workflows, delay publication processes, and potentially affect collaborative environments where multiple users share bibliography databases. The memory corruption aspect introduces additional concerns about system stability, as crashes during bibliography processing could result in data loss or require system restarts. Organizations using BibTeX for automated reference management systems or integrated publishing workflows face particularly high risk, as this vulnerability could be exploited to disrupt critical research infrastructure. The vulnerability affects both local and network-based processing scenarios, making it relevant for both individual users and enterprise environments that depend on BibTeX for bibliographic management.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-1284 should focus on immediate patching of the BibTeX software to version 0.99d or later, which includes proper bounds checking and input validation mechanisms. System administrators should implement strict file validation procedures for bibliography files, particularly when processing external or untrusted inputs. Input sanitization measures including maximum length enforcement and data format validation can help prevent exploitation of the buffer overflow condition. Network segmentation and access controls should limit who can submit bibliography files to processing systems, reducing the attack surface. Additionally, implementing application-level monitoring and alerting for unusual processing patterns or memory usage spikes can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider migrating to more modern bibliography management systems that have better memory safety features and are less susceptible to buffer overflow vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of bibliography processing workflows to ensure that patched systems function correctly while maintaining the integrity of existing reference databases.