CVE-2013-1428 in VPN
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in the receive_tcppacket function in net_packet.c in tinc before 1.0.21 and 1.1 before 1.1pre7 allows remote authenticated peers to cause a denial of service (crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a large TCP packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-1428 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within the tinc virtual private network software suite. This issue affects versions prior to 1.0.21 and 1.1 before 1.1pre7, creating a significant security risk for systems utilizing this peer-to-peer VPN implementation. The vulnerability specifically resides in the receive_tcppacket function located within the net_packet.c source file, which handles incoming TCP packet processing for the tinc daemon. The flaw enables remote authenticated attackers to manipulate the software's memory management through carefully crafted large TCP packets, potentially leading to system instability or unauthorized code execution.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the TCP packet processing pipeline. When the receive_tcppacket function processes incoming TCP packets, it fails to adequately check the size of incoming data against the allocated buffer space on the stack. This oversight creates a condition where a maliciously crafted TCP packet containing excessive data can overwrite adjacent memory locations, corrupting the stack frame and potentially allowing attackers to overwrite return addresses or other critical program state information. The vulnerability manifests as a stack-based buffer overflow, which is classified under CWE-121 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, specifically addressing stack-based buffer overflow conditions. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited to redirect program execution flow or cause immediate system crashes.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-1428 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the vulnerability may enable remote code execution in certain circumstances. When exploited successfully, an authenticated peer could cause the tinc daemon to crash, effectively disrupting network connectivity for all connected peers, or potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the running daemon process. This represents a significant threat to network infrastructure security, particularly in environments where tinc is used for secure communications between multiple network segments. The vulnerability affects both the 1.0.x series and the 1.1 development branch, indicating that the flaw was present across multiple versions of the software, suggesting a fundamental design issue in the packet handling logic rather than a simple coding error that might have been isolated to one release cycle.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve upgrading to patched versions of tinc software, specifically versions 1.0.21 or 1.1pre7 and later. System administrators should implement immediate patch management procedures to ensure all affected tinc installations are updated. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit the number of authenticated peers that can connect to critical tinc nodes, reducing the attack surface. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would place it within the privilege escalation and denial of service domains, as attackers could leverage it to gain unauthorized access to network resources or disrupt service availability. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect unusual TCP packet patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability requires authenticated access but can be exploited from within the network perimeter where legitimate peers already exist.