CVE-2012-0698 in TrouSerS
Summary
by MITRE
tcsd in TrouSerS before 0.3.10 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (daemon crash) via a crafted type_offset value in a TCP packet to port 30003.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/09/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0698 affects the Trusted Computing Services daemon known as tcsd within the TrouSerS software suite. This daemon operates on port 30003 and serves as a critical component in trusted computing environments where it manages communication between applications and the Trusted Platform Module. The flaw resides in how tcsd processes incoming TCP packets, specifically handling the type_offset field within these packets. When a remote attacker crafts a malicious TCP packet containing an improperly formatted type_offset value, the daemon becomes vulnerable to a denial of service condition that results in the daemon crashing and ceasing operations. This represents a significant security concern as it directly impacts the availability of trusted computing services that many applications depend upon for secure operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the tcsd daemon's packet processing logic. The type_offset field in the TCP packet structure is not properly sanitized or validated before being used in subsequent operations. This lack of proper bounds checking and input sanitization creates an exploitable condition where malformed data can cause memory corruption or unexpected behavior within the daemon process. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of array indices, and represents a classic example of an unchecked buffer access scenario. When the daemon attempts to process the crafted packet, it likely performs operations that assume valid data structures, leading to memory access violations or stack corruption that terminates the process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it compromises the integrity of trusted computing environments. Organizations relying on TrouSerS for secure authentication, key management, or platform integrity verification face potential security gaps when the tcsd daemon becomes unavailable. The denial of service condition can be exploited by any remote attacker with access to the network port, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network exposure is unavoidable. This vulnerability can be leveraged as part of broader attack campaigns targeting trusted computing infrastructure, potentially leading to more sophisticated attacks that exploit the compromised state of the system. The availability of the Trusted Platform Module services becomes critically dependent on the stability of this daemon, making it a prime target for adversaries seeking to disrupt secure computing operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-0698 primarily involve upgrading to TrouSerS version 0.3.10 or later, which includes proper input validation and bounds checking for the type_offset field. Network administrators should implement firewall rules to restrict access to port 30003, limiting exposure to only trusted networks and authorized clients. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual traffic patterns or daemon restarts that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of implementing proper input validation as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499 which covers network disruption attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify malformed TCP packets targeting this specific vulnerability. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include checks for outdated TrouSerS installations to prevent exploitation of this and similar denial of service vulnerabilities in trusted computing environments.