CVE-2012-1165 in OpenSSL
Summary
by MITRE
The mime_param_cmp function in crypto/asn1/asn_mime.c in OpenSSL before 0.9.8u and 1.x before 1.0.0h allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and application crash) via a crafted S/MIME message, a different vulnerability than CVE-2006-7250.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/24/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-1165 represents a critical denial of service weakness within OpenSSL's S/MIME processing capabilities. This flaw exists in the mime_param_cmp function located within the crypto/asn1/asn_mime.c file of OpenSSL implementations. The vulnerability affects versions prior to 0.9.8u and 1.0.0h, making it a long-standing issue that impacted numerous systems relying on OpenSSL for secure communications. The flaw specifically targets the handling of S/MIME messages, which are widely used for secure email communication and digital signatures in enterprise environments.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from a NULL pointer dereference condition that occurs when processing malformed S/MIME messages. When the mime_param_cmp function encounters a specially crafted S/MIME message, it fails to properly validate input parameters before attempting to dereference pointers, resulting in a crash of the application. This behavior constitutes a classic denial of service attack vector where remote adversaries can intentionally disrupt services by sending maliciously formatted messages. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because S/MIME is commonly used in business and government communications, making the potential impact widespread across various organizations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems that process S/MIME messages, particularly email servers, secure communication platforms, and any application that relies on OpenSSL for cryptographic operations. The remote attack capability means that malicious actors can exploit this weakness from anywhere on the network without requiring local access or authentication. The crash resulting from this vulnerability can lead to service disruption, requiring system administrators to restart affected services and potentially causing temporary communication outages. Organizations using vulnerable OpenSSL versions are particularly at risk as this vulnerability can be exploited by automated scanning tools to identify and compromise systems.
The impact of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-476, which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference conditions in software implementations. This classification indicates that the flaw represents a fundamental programming error where the application fails to properly check for NULL values before dereferencing pointers. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1499.004 for network denial of service and T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical expertise, making it attractive to threat actors seeking to disrupt services. Organizations should prioritize patching this vulnerability as it represents a straightforward path to service disruption that can be leveraged in broader attack campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-1165 primarily focus on upgrading to patched versions of OpenSSL where the NULL pointer dereference has been resolved. System administrators should immediately implement updates to OpenSSL versions 0.9.8u or 1.0.0h and later, which contain the necessary code modifications to properly validate input parameters. Additional defensive measures include implementing network monitoring to detect unusual patterns in S/MIME message processing and configuring firewalls to limit exposure to potentially malicious S/MIME traffic. Organizations should also consider implementing input validation mechanisms at network boundaries to filter out malformed S/MIME messages before they reach vulnerable applications. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to ensure all systems remain protected against similar vulnerabilities in the cryptographic libraries they utilize.