CVE-2012-3570 in DHCP
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in ISC DHCP 4.2.x before 4.2.4-P1, when DHCPv6 mode is enabled, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (segmentation fault and daemon exit) via a crafted client identifier parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-3570 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Internet Systems Consortium DHCP (ISC DHCP) software version 4.2.x prior to 4.2.4-P1. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the DHCPv6 mode is enabled, creating a scenario where remote attackers can exploit the flaw through manipulation of the client identifier parameter. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the DHCP daemon's handling of IPv6 DHCP messages, making it susceptible to malicious input that exceeds allocated buffer boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of client identifier parameters in DHCPv6 communications where the software fails to properly validate the length of incoming data before copying it into fixed-size buffers. When a maliciously crafted client identifier parameter exceeds the buffer capacity, it triggers a segmentation fault that causes the DHCP daemon to crash and exit unexpectedly. This behavior aligns with CWE-121, which categorizes buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The flaw operates at the application layer within the network infrastructure services, specifically targeting the DHCP server functionality that manages IP address allocation and network configuration parameters for devices.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-3570 extends beyond simple denial of service, as it can disrupt network operations and potentially create security gaps in network infrastructure management. When the DHCP daemon crashes, network devices attempting to obtain IP addresses through DHCPv6 will experience service interruption, leading to connectivity issues for devices within the network segment. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise and institutional networks that rely on DHCPv6 for IPv6 address management, as the disruption can cascade across multiple networked devices. The attack vector requires only remote access to send malformed packets, making it highly exploitable in environments where network traffic is not properly filtered or monitored. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004 which covers network denial of service attacks, and T1595.001 which involves network infrastructure manipulation.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through patching to version 4.2.4-P1 or later, as this release contains the necessary fixes to properly validate client identifier parameters and prevent buffer overflow conditions. Network administrators should also implement monitoring solutions to detect anomalous DHCPv6 traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additional defensive measures include configuring network access controls to limit DHCPv6 traffic to authorized clients only, implementing rate limiting on DHCPv6 message processing, and establishing redundant DHCPv6 servers to minimize service disruption. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in network services and highlights the need for regular security assessments of critical infrastructure components. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation strategies to limit the impact of potential exploitation and establish incident response procedures specifically targeting DHCP service disruptions. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical security considerations required for network infrastructure services and the potential for seemingly minor implementation flaws to create significant operational impacts.