CVE-2013-2075 in CHICKEN
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in the (1) R5RS char-ready, (2) tcp-accept-ready, and (3) file-select procedures in Chicken through 4.8.0.3 allows attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) by opening a file descriptor with a large integer value. NOTE: this issue exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2012-6122.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/01/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2013-2075 represents a critical buffer overflow issue affecting the Chicken Scheme implementation through version 4.8.0.3. This flaw specifically targets three core procedures within the runtime system that handle file descriptor operations and network readiness checks. The vulnerability manifests when these procedures process file descriptors with excessively large integer values, creating conditions where memory boundaries are exceeded during buffer operations. The issue stems from an incomplete remediation of a previous vulnerability CVE-2012-6122, indicating that the initial fix failed to address all potential attack vectors within the same codebase. This incomplete remediation creates a persistent security weakness that attackers can exploit to disrupt system operations through carefully crafted input sequences.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of file descriptor integers that exceed normal operational bounds, causing the underlying buffer management systems to overflow. When the R5RS char-ready, tcp-accept-ready, and file-select procedures encounter these malformed file descriptor values, they attempt to allocate or access memory regions that extend beyond their intended boundaries. This memory corruption occurs because the procedures lack proper validation of input parameters, particularly regarding the range of acceptable file descriptor values. The buffer overflow conditions create opportunities for stack corruption, heap corruption, or other memory management anomalies that can lead to program termination or unpredictable behavior. These procedures are fundamental to Chicken's runtime environment and are frequently invoked during normal program execution, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through legitimate system operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors. While the primary effect is a system crash that results in service disruption, the memory corruption characteristics suggest potential for code execution or privilege escalation in certain environments. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by opening file descriptors with large integer values that cause the buffer overflows to occur during procedure execution. The nature of these procedures suggests they may be invoked during network operations, file I/O handling, or other critical system functions, meaning successful exploitation could compromise the stability of applications built on Chicken or the underlying operating system. The vulnerability affects the core runtime behavior of the interpreter, making it particularly challenging to mitigate without comprehensive system updates.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-2075 require immediate patching of the Chicken Scheme implementation to version 4.8.0.4 or later, which contains the complete fix for both the original CVE-2012-6122 and this subsequent vulnerability. System administrators should implement input validation at the application level to prevent malformed file descriptor values from reaching the vulnerable procedures, though this approach offers only partial protection. Network segmentation and privilege separation can help limit the potential impact of exploitation by reducing the attack surface. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and may also relate to CWE-122 for heap-based buffer overflows depending on the specific memory corruption patterns. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could be categorized under T1499 for endpoint denial of service and potentially T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage, as attackers might leverage the instability to execute additional malicious code. Organizations should also implement monitoring for unusual file descriptor operations and system crashes that could indicate exploitation attempts.