CVE-2013-1886 in Dogtag Certificate System
Summary
by MITRE
Format string vulnerability in the token processing system (pki-tps) in Red Hat Certificate System (RHCS) 8.1 and possibly Dogtag Certificate System 9 and 10 allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via format string specifiers in unspecified vectors, related to viewing certificates.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/31/2022
The CVE-2013-1886 vulnerability represents a critical format string flaw within the token processing system of Red Hat Certificate System version 8.1 and potentially affecting Dogtag Certificate System versions 9 and 10. This vulnerability exists within the pki-tps component responsible for processing cryptographic tokens and certificate management operations. The flaw manifests when the system processes user-supplied input containing format string specifiers during certificate viewing operations, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by authenticated remote adversaries. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-134 which specifically addresses the use of user-supplied format strings in printf-style functions without proper sanitization or validation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the certificate processing pipeline where the system fails to properly sanitize or escape format string specifiers before processing user-provided certificate data. When an authenticated user submits a certificate request or view operation containing malicious format specifiers, the system's token processing subsystem attempts to interpret these specifiers as formatting directives rather than literal characters. This misinterpretation can lead to stack corruption, memory access violations, and ultimately system crashes that result in denial of service conditions. The vulnerability's exploitation potential extends beyond simple denial of service to include arbitrary code execution capabilities, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise certificate management environments where such systems handle sensitive cryptographic operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability within enterprise security infrastructures is significant as it affects the core certificate management capabilities that organizations depend upon for secure communications, identity management, and cryptographic operations. The authenticated nature of the attack means that adversaries must first establish valid credentials within the system, but once achieved, they can leverage this vulnerability to either disrupt certificate services completely or potentially escalate privileges through code execution. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability and integrity of certificate infrastructure, which could affect thousands of systems relying on these certificate authorities for secure operations. The attack vector typically involves crafting specially formatted certificate requests or viewing operations that contain malicious format specifiers designed to manipulate the program's execution flow.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches for Red Hat Certificate System 8.1 and Dogtag Certificate System 9 and 10, which address the format string vulnerability through proper input sanitization and validation. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit the number of authenticated users who can access certificate management systems, reducing the potential attack surface. Additionally, monitoring and logging should be enhanced to detect anomalous certificate viewing patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's characteristics align with attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 sub-technique for command and scripting interpreter, as exploitation may involve crafting specific inputs that trigger code execution. Organizations should also consider implementing input validation controls at multiple layers including application-level sanitization, web application firewalls, and network-based intrusion detection systems to provide defense-in-depth against similar format string vulnerabilities that may exist in other components of their certificate infrastructure.