CVE-2010-0743 in tgt
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple format string vulnerabilities in isns.c in (1) Linux SCSI target framework (aka tgt or scsi-target-utils) 1.0.3, 0.9.5, and earlier and (2) iSCSI Enterprise Target (aka iscsitarget) 0.4.16 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (tgtd daemon crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via vectors that involve the isns_attr_query and qry_rsp_handle functions, and are related to (a) client appearance and (b) client disappearance messages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-0743 represents a critical format string flaw within the Internet Storage Name Service (iSNS) implementation of the Linux SCSI target framework and iSCSI Enterprise Target software. This issue affects versions 1.0.3, 0.9.5, and earlier releases of the target framework, as well as version 0.4.16 of the iSCSI Enterprise Target. The vulnerability specifically resides in the isns.c file and manifests through the isns_attr_query and qry_rsp_handle functions, which process iSNS client appearance and disappearance messages. These functions fail to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input data, creating a dangerous condition where attacker-controlled data can be processed through format string functions without appropriate security measures.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers send specially crafted iSNS messages containing malformed format specifiers in client appearance or disappearance notifications. The underlying flaw stems from improper handling of string formatting operations where attacker-controlled data is directly passed to functions like printf or sprintf without proper validation or sanitization. This creates a classic format string vulnerability that can lead to stack corruption, memory disclosure, or arbitrary code execution depending on the specific implementation and target environment. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects core storage infrastructure components that handle network communications for iSCSI targets, making it accessible to remote attackers without requiring local system access.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-0743 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable more severe compromise scenarios. While the primary effect is a daemon crash that causes service disruption, the format string vulnerability could theoretically be exploited to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the tgtd daemon process, which typically runs with elevated system privileges. This could result in complete system compromise, unauthorized access to storage resources, or data exfiltration from the affected storage infrastructure. The vulnerability affects network-based storage systems that rely on iSNS for name resolution and discovery, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where storage networks are critical to business operations. The impact is further amplified by the fact that these components are commonly deployed in production environments where availability and security are paramount.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patching to the latest stable versions of the affected software, which address the format string vulnerabilities through proper input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to iSNS ports to trusted networks only, reducing the attack surface available to potential remote attackers. Additionally, monitoring should be enabled for unusual iSNS traffic patterns, particularly those involving client appearance and disappearance messages that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-134 which specifically addresses format string vulnerabilities where format strings are constructed from user-supplied data without proper validation, and represents a technique that could map to ATT&CK tactic TA0001 (Initial Access) through network-based exploitation and TA0005 (Defense Evasion) through potential privilege escalation if exploitation succeeds. Regular security audits of storage infrastructure components should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other system components that may be susceptible to format string attacks.