CVE-2012-6089 in SWI-Prolog
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple stack-based buffer overflows in the canoniseFileName function in os/pl-os.c in SWI-Prolog before 6.2.5 and 6.3.x before 6.3.7 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted filename.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-6089 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow in the SWI-Prolog software development environment affecting versions prior to 6.2.5 and 6.3.7. This flaw exists within the canoniseFileName function located in the os/pl-os.c file, which serves as a core component in the Prolog interpreter's file handling operations. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation when processing filenames, creating an exploitable condition that can be triggered through maliciously crafted input strings. The canonicalization process, which normalizes file paths and resolves symbolic links, becomes compromised when handling overly long or specially formatted filenames, leading to memory corruption in the program's stack memory space.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the filename processing routine. When SWI-Prolog encounters a filename that exceeds the allocated buffer size, the function fails to properly validate input length before copying data to the stack buffer. This classic buffer overflow condition allows attackers to overwrite adjacent stack memory locations, potentially corrupting program execution flow. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited remotely through network-based file operations or file processing mechanisms, making it applicable to various attack scenarios including web-based Prolog applications or networked development environments. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-121: Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is a fundamental memory safety issue that has been extensively documented in software security literature.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-6089 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable remote code execution, making it a severe security concern for systems running vulnerable SWI-Prolog versions. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could cause application crashes that result in service disruption, or in more sophisticated attack scenarios, could execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Prolog interpreter process. This capability is particularly concerning in environments where Prolog is used for web applications, automated reasoning systems, or as part of larger software ecosystems where the interpreter might be exposed to untrusted input. The vulnerability affects not only standalone installations but also integrated development environments and server applications that utilize SWI-Prolog for computational tasks, creating widespread potential impact across various deployment scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-6089 primarily focus on immediate patching of affected SWI-Prolog installations to versions 6.2.5 or 6.3.7 and later, which contain the necessary buffer overflow protections and input validation improvements. System administrators should implement comprehensive vulnerability management processes to identify and remediate all affected systems, particularly those running Prolog-based applications that might be exposed to external threats. Additional protective measures include implementing input sanitization at network boundaries, restricting file access permissions for Prolog processes, and deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving buffer overflow exploitation and privilege escalation, making it relevant to defensive strategies focused on memory safety and application hardening. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and network segmentation to limit potential attack vectors and reduce the overall risk exposure associated with this vulnerability.