CVE-2012-0050 in OpenSSL
Summary
by MITRE
OpenSSL 0.9.8s and 1.0.0f does not properly support DTLS applications, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via unspecified vectors related to an out-of-bounds read. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incorrect fix for CVE-2011-4108.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/20/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-0050 represents a critical flaw in OpenSSL's implementation of the Datagram Transport Layer Security protocol, specifically affecting versions 0.9.8s and 1.0.0f. This issue emerged as an incorrect remediation for a previously identified vulnerability, CVE-2011-4108, demonstrating how security patches can sometimes introduce new weaknesses when not thoroughly tested or when addressing complex protocol behaviors. The flaw manifests as an out-of-bounds read condition that occurs during DTLS application processing, creating a scenario where remote attackers can exploit this weakness to trigger system crashes and subsequently cause denial of service conditions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of DTLS protocol messages within OpenSSL's cryptographic libraries. When processing certain malformed DTLS packets, the software attempts to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, resulting in memory access violations that typically lead to application crashes. This out-of-bounds read condition represents a classic buffer overflow vulnerability variant that can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication or privileged access. The issue is particularly concerning in networked environments where OpenSSL serves as the foundation for secure communications, as it allows attackers to disrupt services by simply sending maliciously crafted DTLS packets to vulnerable systems.
From an operational perspective, the impact of CVE-2012-0050 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the availability of critical infrastructure components that rely on OpenSSL for secure communications. Systems utilizing DTLS for services such as VoIP, IoT device communications, or any application requiring secure datagram-based communication become vulnerable to this attack vector. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that adversaries can target these systems from anywhere on the network, making it particularly dangerous for organizations operating public-facing services. Network monitoring and intrusion detection systems may not immediately flag this attack due to its subtle nature, potentially allowing prolonged exploitation without detection.
The remediation for this vulnerability requires immediate updates to OpenSSL implementations to version 0.9.8t or 1.0.0g, which contain proper fixes for the DTLS handling issues. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected OpenSSL versions and prioritize patching efforts accordingly. Security teams should also implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect unusual DTLS traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and falls under ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks, highlighting the importance of maintaining up-to-date cryptographic libraries and implementing proper security controls to prevent exploitation of such fundamental protocol weaknesses.