CVE-2012-2677 in pool
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in the ordered_malloc function in boost/pool/pool.hpp in Boost Pool before 3.9 makes it easier for context-dependent attackers to perform memory-related attacks such as buffer overflows via a large memory chunk size value, which causes less memory to be allocated than expected.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-2677 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the Boost Pool library's ordered_malloc function located in boost/pool/pool.hpp. This issue affects versions of Boost Pool prior to 3.9 and creates a significant security risk by allowing attackers to manipulate memory allocation behavior through carefully crafted large memory chunk size values. The flaw operates at the core of memory management mechanisms within the Boost C++ libraries, which are widely used across enterprise and open-source applications for efficient memory allocation and deallocation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of integer arithmetic within the ordered_malloc function where the library fails to properly validate or check for integer overflow conditions when processing large memory allocation requests. When an attacker provides a sufficiently large memory chunk size value, the integer overflow causes the system to allocate fewer bytes of memory than actually requested by the application. This discrepancy creates a situation where subsequent memory operations may overwrite adjacent memory regions, leading to potential buffer overflows, memory corruption, or arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-190 as an integer overflow error, specifically manifesting as an integer overflow in the context of memory allocation operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory management issues to encompass broader security implications for systems relying on Boost Pool for memory allocation. Attackers can exploit this weakness to craft targeted memory-related attacks that bypass normal memory safety mechanisms, potentially leading to privilege escalation, denial of service, or information disclosure. The context-dependent nature of this vulnerability means that exploitation requires specific conditions related to the memory allocation patterns and system state, but once triggered, the consequences can be severe for applications that depend on predictable memory behavior. This flaw particularly affects systems where memory pool management is critical and where attackers have the ability to influence allocation requests through input parameters or configuration values.
Organizations utilizing Boost Pool libraries should immediately upgrade to version 3.9 or later to address this vulnerability, as the fix includes proper integer overflow checks and validation mechanisms within the memory allocation functions. Additionally, system administrators should implement monitoring for unusual memory allocation patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The mitigation strategy should also include code review processes to identify any custom implementations that might be using vulnerable versions of Boost Pool or similar memory management patterns. Security teams should consider implementing runtime protections such as address space layout randomization and stack canaries to reduce the effectiveness of potential exploitation attempts, while also ensuring that all third-party dependencies are regularly updated and audited for similar memory safety issues. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper integer overflow handling in memory management systems and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers privilege escalation through memory corruption vulnerabilities.