CVE-2012-4460 in qpid
Summary
by MITRE
The serializing/deserializing functions in the qpid::framing::Buffer class in Apache Qpid 0.20 and earlier allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (assertion failure and daemon exit) via unspecified vectors. NOTE: this issue could also trigger an out-of-bounds read, but it might not trigger a crash.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/25/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4460 resides within the qpid::framing::Buffer class of Apache Qpid version 0.20 and earlier, representing a critical flaw in the messaging middleware's serialization and deserialization mechanisms. This issue manifests as a remote denial of service condition that can be exploited by attackers to cause assertion failures and subsequent daemon exits, effectively disrupting the availability of messaging services. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple service disruption as it may also enable out-of-bounds read conditions that could potentially lead to information disclosure or further exploitation, though the primary concern remains the reliability of the messaging daemon.
The technical flaw occurs within the buffer handling functions that process serialized data structures in the Apache Qpid messaging system. When malformed or specially crafted data is processed through these serialization/deserialization functions, the buffer management logic fails to properly validate input parameters or buffer boundaries, leading to assertion failures that cause the daemon process to terminate abruptly. This vulnerability specifically affects the qpid::framing::Buffer class which is responsible for managing data flow between different components of the messaging system, making it a critical component in the attack chain. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple input paths or data formats could trigger this condition, increasing the attack surface and making the vulnerability more difficult to fully mitigate.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on Apache Qpid for mission-critical messaging infrastructure. Remote attackers can exploit this flaw to cause repeated daemon crashes, leading to service interruptions that can affect business operations and potentially compromise message delivery reliability. In environments where high availability is required, such as financial services, telecommunications, or industrial control systems, this vulnerability could result in substantial downtime and data loss. The potential for out-of-bounds reads adds additional risk as attackers might be able to extract sensitive information from memory, though the primary concern remains the denial of service aspect that can be triggered remotely without authentication.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to Apache Qpid versions 0.22 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed through improved input validation and buffer boundary checking mechanisms. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of affected systems to untrusted networks, while monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which covers improper validation of array index or buffer bounds, and may also relate to CWE-119, concerning weaknesses in memory management that allow out-of-bounds reads. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could be leveraged as part of a denial of service campaign (T1499) or potentially as a precursor to more sophisticated attacks targeting memory corruption weaknesses. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of affected software versions within the organization's infrastructure.