CVE-2013-0229 in MiniUPnPd
Summary
by MITRE
The ProcessSSDPRequest function in minissdp.c in the SSDP handler in MiniUPnP MiniUPnPd before 1.4 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (service crash) via a crafted request that triggers a buffer over-read.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0229 resides within the MiniUPnP MiniUPnPd software, specifically in the ProcessSSDPRequest function located in minissdp.c. This flaw affects versions prior to 1.4 and represents a critical security issue that enables remote attackers to execute a denial of service attack against affected systems. The vulnerability manifests through the Simple Service Discovery Protocol (SSDP) handler component, which is integral to the UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) functionality that allows devices to discover and communicate with each other on networks. SSDP operates on UDP port 1900 and is commonly used by network devices to announce their presence and services to other devices on the network, making it a prime target for exploitation.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability is a buffer over-read condition that occurs when the ProcessSSDPRequest function processes incoming SSDP requests without proper input validation or bounds checking. When a remote attacker crafts a malicious SSDP request containing malformed or oversized data, the function fails to properly validate the buffer boundaries before reading data from memory. This buffer over-read vulnerability allows the attacker to read data beyond the allocated memory buffer, potentially causing the application to crash or behave unpredictably. The flaw specifically affects how the software handles the parsing of SSDP packets, particularly when processing the location field or other header components that may contain unexpected data lengths or formats.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring any authentication or privileged access. The denial of service condition can result in complete service unavailability, forcing network devices to restart or become unresponsive, which can have cascading effects on network connectivity and device functionality. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in network environments where UPnP services are actively enabled and exposed to external networks, as it provides attackers with a straightforward method to disrupt network operations and potentially gain insights into system memory structures through the over-read behavior. The attack can be executed from any location that can send UDP packets to the affected device, making it highly accessible and dangerous in both home and enterprise network environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-0229 primarily involve upgrading to MiniUPnPd version 1.4 or later, which includes proper bounds checking and input validation mechanisms that prevent the buffer over-read condition. Network administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of UPnP services to untrusted networks, particularly by disabling UPnP functionality on devices that do not require it. Additionally, implementing network monitoring and intrusion detection systems can help identify and respond to suspicious SSDP traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a technique that could be categorized under the ATT&CK tactic of Resource Hijacking through service disruption. Organizations should also consider implementing proper input sanitization practices and regular security assessments of network services to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being present in their infrastructure.