CVE-2011-1052 in IDA
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in the PSX/GEOS 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-2011-1052 represents a critical integer overflow condition within the PSX/GEOS input file loaders implemented in Hex-Rays IDA Pro versions 5.7 and 6.0. This flaw exists in the memory allocation mechanisms used when processing specific input files, creating potential for arbitrary code execution or system instability. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of integer values during the calculation of memory requirements for file parsing operations, where large input values can cause arithmetic overflow leading to insufficient memory allocation. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-190 category of integer overflow/underflow, which is a well-documented weakness in software security that has been extensively categorized in the CWE database. The attack surface is particularly concerning because IDA Pro is widely used by security professionals, reverse engineers, and penetration testers for analyzing binary files and malware, making the exploitation of this vulnerability potentially devastating for security research environments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the PSX/GEOS loader attempts to parse input files that contain malformed or specially crafted data structures. During the parsing process, the software calculates the required memory buffer size based on input parameters that should represent file dimensions or data structure sizes. However, when these parameters exceed the maximum value that can be represented by the integer type used for the calculation, an integer overflow occurs. This overflow results in a significantly smaller allocated memory buffer than required, creating a situation where subsequent memory operations can overwrite adjacent memory regions. The memory allocation behavior demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-122 heap-based buffer overflow conditions, where the improper calculation leads to memory corruption that can be exploited through carefully crafted input files. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered by simply opening a maliciously crafted file within the IDA Pro environment, requiring no special privileges or complex attack chains.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-1052 extends beyond simple memory corruption, potentially enabling remote code execution or privilege escalation depending on the execution context. When exploited, this vulnerability can allow attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of the IDA Pro process, which typically runs with elevated privileges due to its role in analyzing potentially malicious binary files. The implications are severe for security researchers who may unknowingly open compromised files during analysis, as this could lead to complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects both IDA Pro 5.7 and 6.0 versions, indicating that the flaw was present across multiple releases and potentially exposed a significant number of users to risk. Organizations using IDA Pro for malware analysis, vulnerability research, and binary reverse engineering face particular risk, as these environments often process untrusted input files from various sources. The attack vectors are primarily limited to file-based exploitation, where an attacker can craft a malicious PSX/GEOS file that triggers the integer overflow during the loading process, making this a classic example of a file format vulnerability that can be leveraged in targeted attacks against security research environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-1052 should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term defensive measures. The most effective immediate solution is to upgrade to a patched version of IDA Pro that addresses the integer overflow in the PSX/GEOS loader implementation. Organizations should also implement strict file validation procedures, including the use of sandboxed environments for processing untrusted files, network segmentation to limit potential attack surface, and regular security updates to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual memory allocation patterns and file processing activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation and proper integer handling in security-critical applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter usage and T1203 for exploitation for privilege escalation. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted binary files and maintain comprehensive backup and recovery procedures to address potential system compromise. Regular security assessments of development and analysis tools should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other software used for security research and reverse engineering activities.