CVE-2010-3072 in Squid
Summary
by MITRE
The string-comparison functions in String.cci in Squid 3.x before 3.1.8 and 3.2.x before 3.2.0.2 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and daemon crash) via a crafted request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/21/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3072 represents a critical denial of service flaw affecting Squid proxy servers running versions 3.1.x before 3.1.8 and 3.2.x before 3.2.0.2. This vulnerability resides within the string-comparison functions implemented in the String.cci file, which forms a fundamental component of Squid's core functionality. The flaw manifests when the proxy server processes specially crafted requests that exploit improper handling of string comparison operations, ultimately leading to a NULL pointer dereference condition that causes the daemon to crash and become unavailable to legitimate users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within Squid's string handling mechanisms. When maliciously constructed requests are received, the string-comparison functions fail to properly validate the input parameters before attempting to dereference pointers. This particular weakness aligns with CWE-476, which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference vulnerabilities in software implementations. The flaw operates at the application layer and requires no authentication or special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by any remote attacker to disrupt proxy services.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service interruption, as it can be exploited to create persistent denial of service conditions that may require manual intervention to restore normal operations. When the Squid daemon crashes due to this NULL pointer dereference, all proxy services become unavailable until the process is manually restarted or the system is rebooted. This disruption affects all network traffic that relies on the proxy server for access control, caching, and content filtering, potentially impacting thousands of users within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability's exploitation can be automated, making it particularly dangerous in environments where continuous availability is critical.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-3072 primarily focus on immediate patch application to upgrade to Squid versions 3.1.8 or 3.2.0.2 and later, which contain the necessary code fixes to properly handle string comparison operations. Network administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual patterns of proxy daemon crashes that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing rate limiting and request validation mechanisms at network boundaries can help reduce the effectiveness of such attacks by limiting the number of malformed requests that reach the vulnerable proxy server. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on suspicious HTTP request patterns that match the vulnerability characteristics. The remediation approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which focuses on network denial of service attacks and emphasizes the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.