CVE-2010-2451 in KVIrc
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple format string vulnerabilities in the DCC functionality in KVIrc 3.4 and 4.0 have unspecified impact and remote attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/18/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2451 represents a critical security flaw within KVIrc, a popular open-source internet relay chat client that has been widely deployed across various operating systems including windows linux and macos platforms. This vulnerability specifically targets the DCC functionality which stands for direct client-to-client communication protocol commonly used for file transfers and private messaging within irc networks. The issue manifests as multiple format string vulnerabilities that exist within the software's handling of incoming DCC requests and data processing mechanisms.
Format string vulnerabilities occur when application code improperly processes user-supplied data that contains format specifiers such as %s %d or %x without proper validation or sanitization. In the context of KVIrc's DCC implementation, this flaw allows malicious actors to craft specially formatted DCC requests that can cause the application to interpret arbitrary memory locations as format strings, leading to potential information disclosure, application crashes, or in severe cases arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability affects both version 3.4 and 4.0 of the software, indicating it was present across a significant portion of the codebase and likely introduced during the development cycle.
The remote attack vector aspect of this vulnerability means that adversaries can exploit the flaw without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where irc clients are commonly used. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by initiating malicious DCC connections to victims, potentially triggering the format string processing errors that result in the exploitation. This attack surface is particularly concerning given the widespread use of irc clients for both personal and professional communications, where users may unknowingly accept DCC requests from malicious actors.
The unspecified impact of this vulnerability reflects the complexity of format string exploits and their potential for various outcomes depending on the specific memory layout and system configuration. While the primary concern involves information disclosure through memory leaks, the vulnerability could also enable denial of service conditions that prevent legitimate users from accessing irc services. Additionally, the nature of format string vulnerabilities often allows for more sophisticated exploitation techniques that could potentially lead to privilege escalation or arbitrary code execution, especially when the vulnerable application runs with elevated privileges.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with common weakness enumerations such as CWE-134 which specifically addresses format string vulnerabilities in software applications. The attack patterns associated with this flaw would fall under the ATT&CK framework's technique T1203 for exploitation of remote services and potentially T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage if exploitation leads to code execution. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and inadequate parameter sanitization within the DCC protocol handling code, which are fundamental security principles that should be implemented across all network-facing applications.
Organizations and individual users affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through software updates to versions that have patched the format string processing flaws. System administrators should also implement network monitoring to detect suspicious DCC traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper input validation and the dangers of legacy code that may not have been updated to address modern security requirements. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar weaknesses in other network applications and services that may be similarly vulnerable to format string attacks.