CVE-2013-0251 in latd
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in llogincircuit.cc in latd 1.25 through 1.30 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a long string in the llogin version.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/25/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0251 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within the latd network service software version 1.25 through 1.30 and earlier releases. This vulnerability specifically affects the llogincircuit.cc component of the latd daemon, which is responsible for handling login circuits in certain networking environments. The flaw manifests when the system processes a malformed llogin version string, creating a condition where an attacker can manipulate memory allocation through excessive input data. The vulnerability resides in the software's failure to properly validate input length before copying data to fixed-size stack buffers, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow stems from improper bounds checking within the llogincircuit.cc source file where string data from network connections is directly copied without adequate length validation. When an attacker sends a specially crafted long string in the llogin version field, the software attempts to store this data in a predetermined stack buffer that cannot accommodate the excessive input. This overflow corrupts adjacent stack memory, potentially overwriting return addresses and function pointers, which can lead to unpredictable program behavior. The vulnerability's classification as stack-based indicates that the overflow occurs within the program's stack memory space rather than heap or other memory regions, making it particularly susceptible to exploitation techniques that manipulate execution flow through return address corruption.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-0251 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable remote code execution, making it a severe security concern for affected systems. A successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the latd service account. This vulnerability affects network infrastructure components that rely on the latd service for authentication and circuit management, potentially compromising entire network segments. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur without physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous for network services that are exposed to untrusted networks. The vulnerability's presence in multiple versions of latd indicates a widespread exposure risk across various network environments that utilize this authentication service.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-0251 should prioritize immediate patching of affected latd versions to the latest available releases that contain the necessary buffer overflow protections. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit exposure of latd services to untrusted networks and consider disabling the service entirely if it is not essential for operations. Input validation measures should be strengthened at network boundaries to filter out malformed llogin version strings before they reach the vulnerable service. Security monitoring should include detection of unusually long strings in llogin version fields, which could indicate attempted exploitation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 stack-based buffer overflow and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1203 for legitimate code execution and T1499 for denial of service. Regular security assessments and network scanning should be conducted to identify systems running vulnerable versions of latd and ensure proper remediation has been implemented across all network infrastructure components.