CVE-2011-1051 in IDA
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in the COFF/EPOC/EXPLOAD input file loaders in Hex-Rays IDA Pro 5.7 and 6.0 has unknown impact and attack vectors related to memory allocation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/20/2015
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1051 represents a critical integer overflow condition within the file loader components of Hex-Rays IDA Pro version 5.7 and 6.0. This flaw specifically affects the COFF EPOC and EXPLOAD input file format parsers that are integral to the disassembly and analysis capabilities of the software. The vulnerability resides in the memory allocation logic where integer overflow conditions can occur during the processing of malformed input files, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system instability. The affected software components are responsible for parsing executable file formats and converting them into analyzeable structures within the reverse engineering environment.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of integer values during memory allocation calculations within the file loader subsystem. When processing specially crafted input files, the integer overflow can cause the application to allocate insufficient memory or allocate memory at incorrect offsets, creating potential for buffer overflows or memory corruption. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-190 category of integer overflow, specifically involving signed integer overflow that can result in unexpected behavior during memory management operations. The flaw is particularly concerning because it operates at the foundational level of file processing, where any malformed input could trigger the overflow condition and potentially be exploited by malicious actors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application instability to potentially enable remote code execution within the context of the user running IDA Pro. Attackers could craft malicious executable files that, when processed by the vulnerable software, would trigger the integer overflow condition and allow for arbitrary code execution. This represents a significant threat to reverse engineering environments where analysts frequently process untrusted binary files from various sources. The vulnerability affects both IDA Pro 5.7 and 6.0 versions, indicating a prolonged period where the flaw remained unpatched, potentially exposing numerous users to risk. The attack vectors are primarily through file processing, making it particularly dangerous in environments where analysts regularly handle suspicious or unknown binary files.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate software updates to patched versions of IDA Pro, as well as implementing strict input validation procedures for any files processed through the software. Organizations should establish robust file handling protocols that include sandboxing of suspicious files and network segmentation to limit potential exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper integer overflow protection in security-critical applications and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through command and scripting interpreter. System administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting and monitoring for unusual memory allocation patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments of reverse engineering tools and their input processing capabilities should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited in the wild.