CVE-2012-4465 in cgit
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in the substr function in parsing.c in cgit 0.9.0.3 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via an empty username in the "Author" field in a commit.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4465 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow affecting the cgit web-based Git repository viewer version 0.9.0.3 and earlier. This flaw exists within the substr function located in the parsing.c source file, which processes user input when parsing Git commit information. The vulnerability specifically manifests when an empty username is provided in the "Author" field of a Git commit, creating a condition where maliciously crafted input can corrupt heap memory allocation. The technical implementation involves improper bounds checking during string manipulation operations, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory regions through buffer overflow conditions that occur when processing commit author information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enabling remote code execution in affected systems. When authenticated users submit commits with empty author fields, the flawed substr function fails to validate input length constraints, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited by attackers to crash the cgit process or potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the web server process. This represents a significant security risk for Git repository hosting environments where cgit is deployed, as it allows authenticated attackers to leverage this vulnerability even without direct system access. The vulnerability affects the core parsing functionality of cgit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through normal Git commit operations that users might perform during routine repository management.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and represents a classic example of improper input validation in web applications. The attack surface is limited to authenticated users who can submit commits to repositories, but this access level is often sufficient for exploitation in shared hosting environments or when attackers can create legitimate user accounts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique through application vulnerabilities, as the initial authenticated access can be leveraged to achieve code execution. Organizations using cgit should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to version 0.9.1 or later, which contains the necessary patches to prevent the buffer overflow condition. Additionally, input sanitization measures should be implemented at the application level to validate commit author fields before processing, and system administrators should monitor for unusual commit patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management in web applications and highlights the need for comprehensive input validation across all user-supplied data processing functions.