CVE-2012-1910 in Bitcoin-Qt
Summary
by MITRE
Bitcoin-Qt 0.5.0.x before 0.5.0.5; 0.5.1.x, 0.5.2.x, and 0.5.3.x before 0.5.3.1; and 0.6.x before 0.6.0rc4 on Windows does not use MinGW multithread-safe exception handling, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via crafted Bitcoin protocol messages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/25/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-1910 affects multiple versions of the Bitcoin-Qt client software on Windows platforms, specifically targeting versions 0.5.0.x before 0.5.0.5, 0.5.1.x through 0.5.3.x before 0.5.3.1, and 0.6.x before 0.6.0rc4. This represents a critical security flaw that stems from improper exception handling mechanisms within the MinGW compiler environment used for building the software. The issue manifests when the application receives crafted Bitcoin protocol messages that trigger specific exception conditions during multithreaded operations, creating a fundamental weakness in the software's stability and security architecture.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the absence of MinGW multithread-safe exception handling within the Bitcoin-Qt implementation. When the application processes maliciously crafted protocol messages, the exception handling mechanism fails to properly manage concurrent access patterns across multiple threads, leading to undefined behavior that can result in application crashes or more severe consequences. This flaw operates at the intersection of compiler-level thread safety issues and network protocol processing, making it particularly dangerous because it can be exploited remotely through network communication. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-694, which describes "Use of Multiple Resources with Duplicate Names" and CWE-695, "Use of Unsafe APIs," as the issue involves improper handling of system resources in a multithreaded context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to potentially enable remote code execution, making it a severe threat to Bitcoin network participants and users. Attackers can craft specific Bitcoin protocol messages that, when processed by vulnerable versions of the software, cause the application to behave unpredictably. The potential for arbitrary code execution means that malicious actors could gain control over affected systems, potentially leading to theft of Bitcoin wallets, data corruption, or further exploitation of compromised systems. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability and integrity of Bitcoin transactions and wallet operations, particularly affecting users who rely on the desktop client for their cryptocurrency management.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected software versions to the corrected releases that implement proper MinGW multithread-safe exception handling. Users should upgrade to Bitcoin-Qt versions 0.5.0.5, 0.5.3.1, or 0.6.0rc4 respectively, which contain the necessary fixes for the multithreading exception handling issues. System administrators should also implement network monitoring to detect and block suspicious Bitcoin protocol messages that could trigger the vulnerability. From a defensive perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper compiler and runtime environment configuration for multithreaded applications, particularly in security-critical software like cryptocurrency clients. The fix addresses the underlying issue by ensuring that exception handling mechanisms properly account for concurrent thread access patterns, preventing the undefined behavior that led to the vulnerability. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as network segmentation, intrusion detection systems, and regular security assessments to protect against similar issues in other networked applications. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of thorough testing and validation of multithreaded applications, particularly those handling financial transactions and sensitive data in distributed network environments.