CVE-2013-0252 in boost
Summary
by MITRE
boost::locale::utf::utf_traits in the Boost.Locale library in Boost 1.48 through 1.52 does not properly detect certain invalid UTF-8 sequences, which might allow remote attackers to bypass input validation protection mechanisms via crafted trailing bytes.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0252 resides within the Boost.Locale library version 1.48 through 1.52, specifically affecting the boost::locale::utf::utf_traits component responsible for UTF-8 sequence validation. This flaw represents a critical weakness in input validation mechanisms that could be exploited by remote attackers to circumvent security controls designed to filter malicious UTF-8 encoded data. The issue stems from improper detection of certain invalid UTF-8 sequences, particularly those involving crafted trailing bytes that should be rejected by proper UTF-8 validation logic. According to CWE-189, this vulnerability falls under the category of integer overflow or underflow, specifically related to improper input validation and data handling. The affected Boost.Locale library component fails to correctly identify malformed UTF-8 sequences that contain invalid trailing bytes, creating a potential bypass mechanism for security systems that rely on UTF-8 validation for input sanitization.
The technical implementation flaw occurs within the utf_traits template specialization that handles UTF-8 character encoding validation. When processing UTF-8 byte sequences, the library's validation logic does not adequately check for invalid trailing byte patterns that should trigger rejection of the entire sequence. This weakness allows attackers to craft UTF-8 sequences where trailing bytes contain values that would normally be rejected by strict UTF-8 validation, but are accepted by the flawed implementation. The vulnerability specifically targets the detection of invalid UTF-8 sequences that contain trailing bytes with values outside the proper UTF-8 range, enabling attackers to inject malformed data that passes through validation checks. This behavior aligns with ATT&CK technique T1070.004, which involves the use of valid but unexpected inputs to bypass validation controls. The flaw essentially creates a false positive scenario where invalid sequences are incorrectly accepted as valid UTF-8 data.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-0252 extends beyond simple input validation bypass to potentially enable more serious security consequences within applications that rely on Boost.Locale for text processing and validation. Systems using affected versions of the library could be vulnerable to various attacks including but not limited to data injection, cross-site scripting attempts, and potentially code execution if the malformed UTF-8 sequences are processed through vulnerable application components. Applications that perform user input validation, log parsing, or text processing functions may be at risk when they utilize the vulnerable Boost.Locale functionality. The vulnerability affects any system where UTF-8 validation is critical for security, particularly web applications, database systems, and network protocols that process user-supplied text data. Attackers could exploit this weakness to inject malicious content that bypasses security controls, potentially leading to privilege escalation or denial of service conditions. Organizations using affected software versions may experience unexpected behavior in text processing functions and could face challenges in maintaining data integrity and security posture.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-0252 primarily involve upgrading to a patched version of the Boost library where the UTF-8 validation has been corrected. System administrators should immediately update to Boost version 1.53 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the utf_traits validation logic. Additionally, organizations should implement additional input validation layers at application boundaries, particularly for user-supplied UTF-8 data, to provide defense-in-depth protection. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems using affected Boost versions and ensure proper patching across the enterprise. Network monitoring and intrusion detection systems should be configured to detect unusual UTF-8 sequences that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper UTF-8 handling in security-critical applications and reinforces the need for comprehensive testing of input validation mechanisms. Organizations should review their codebases for direct or indirect usage of Boost.Locale components and ensure that all text processing functions properly validate UTF-8 sequences before accepting or processing user input. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper encoding validation in security-sensitive applications and the potential impact of subtle flaws in widely-used library components.