CVE-2009-3586 in CoreHTTP
Summary
by MITRE
Off-by-one error in src/http.c in CoreHTTP 0.5.3.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly execute arbitrary code via an HTTP request with a long first line that triggers a buffer overflow. NOTE: this vulnerability reportedly exists because of an incorrect fix for CVE-2007-4060.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-3586 represents a critical buffer overflow condition affecting CoreHTTP version 0.5.3.1 and earlier implementations. This flaw manifests as an off-by-one error within the http.c source file, specifically in how the software processes HTTP request handling. The vulnerability stems from improper boundary checking during the parsing of HTTP request lines, where the application fails to properly validate the length of the initial request line before attempting to store it in a fixed-size buffer. This fundamental programming error creates a condition where an attacker can manipulate the first line of an HTTP request to exceed the allocated buffer space by precisely one byte, thereby triggering the overflow.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a remote attacker crafts an HTTP request containing an excessively long first line that bypasses normal input validation mechanisms. The off-by-one error specifically affects the buffer management logic that handles the initial request line parsing, causing memory corruption that can manifest in two primary ways. The first impact involves denial of service conditions where the application crashes or becomes unresponsive due to memory corruption. The second, more severe impact involves potential arbitrary code execution, where the buffer overflow allows an attacker to overwrite critical memory locations including return addresses or function pointers, enabling code injection attacks. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication or privileged access, making it a prime target for automated exploitation tools.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-3586 extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass potential complete system compromise. Organizations running vulnerable CoreHTTP implementations face significant risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and system availability violations. The vulnerability's classification as a buffer overflow aligns with CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and also relates to CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read conditions. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and T1499 (Endpoint Denial of Service), demonstrating how a single flaw can enable various attack vectors. The fact that this vulnerability reportedly emerged from an incorrect fix for CVE-2007-4060 highlights the dangerous nature of rushed security patches that fail to address root causes properly, creating new attack surfaces while attempting to resolve existing ones.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-3586 require immediate action to upgrade to patched versions of CoreHTTP software, as the vulnerability cannot be effectively addressed through configuration changes alone. Organizations should implement network-level protections including firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious HTTP request patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Input validation measures should be enhanced to include strict length limitations on HTTP request lines, though these measures alone are insufficient to prevent exploitation. System administrators should also consider implementing application-level monitoring to detect abnormal memory usage patterns that might indicate buffer overflow exploitation. The vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of thorough code review processes, proper boundary checking implementations, and careful validation of security patches to prevent the introduction of new vulnerabilities during remediation efforts. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potential buffer overflow conditions within their software infrastructure, as similar flaws may exist in other components.