CVE-2010-2948 in Quagga
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in the bgp_route_refresh_receive function in bgp_packet.c in bgpd in Quagga before 0.99.17 allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (daemon crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a malformed Outbound Route Filtering (ORF) record in a BGP ROUTE-REFRESH (RR) message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2948 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow within the bgp_packet.c file of Quagga's bgpd daemon, specifically affecting the bgp_route_refresh_receive function. This flaw exists in Quagga versions prior to 0.99.17 and demonstrates a classic software security weakness that can be exploited by remote authenticated attackers to compromise system integrity. The vulnerability manifests when processing malformed Outbound Route Filtering records within BGP ROUTE-REFRESH messages, creating a scenario where attacker-controlled input can overwrite adjacent stack memory regions. The affected function processes routing update messages that are part of the Border Gateway Protocol implementation, which is fundamental to internet routing operations across network infrastructure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of BGP ROUTE-REFRESH messages containing malformed ORF records, which are legitimate components of the BGP protocol used for route filtering and synchronization. When the bgpd daemon receives such malformed data, the bgp_route_refresh_receive function fails to properly validate the input length before copying data to a fixed-size stack buffer. This insufficient bounds checking creates an exploitable condition where attacker-controlled data can overflow the designated buffer space, potentially corrupting adjacent stack variables, return addresses, or other critical program state information. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which specifically addresses buffer overflows occurring in stack memory regions where insufficient bounds checking allows data to overwrite adjacent memory locations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as it presents a potential path for arbitrary code execution on affected systems. Remote authenticated attackers who can establish BGP sessions with vulnerable Quagga implementations can leverage this flaw to crash the bgpd daemon, effectively causing a denial of service that disrupts network routing operations. However, the more severe implications involve the possibility of executing arbitrary code, which would allow attackers to gain control of the routing daemon and potentially escalate privileges to compromise the entire network infrastructure. This vulnerability directly affects network reliability and security, as routing daemons are critical components that maintain internet connectivity and traffic routing decisions across network boundaries. The impact is particularly concerning in enterprise and service provider environments where Quagga serves as core routing software for maintaining network connectivity and traffic flow.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-2948 primarily focus on immediate version upgrades to Quagga 0.99.17 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the buffer overflow condition. Network administrators should implement proper access controls to limit BGP session establishment to trusted peers only, reducing the attack surface for authenticated exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing BGP monitoring and anomaly detection systems can help identify malformed ROUTE-REFRESH messages that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's exploitation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and control through routing protocols, where adversaries leverage legitimate network protocols to establish persistence or execute malicious commands. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and firewall rules to restrict BGP traffic to only necessary network segments, further limiting potential attack vectors. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify other potentially affected components within the network infrastructure that might utilize similar vulnerable code patterns, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities in routing software implementations.