CVE-2014-125106 in Nanopb
Summary
by MITRE • 06/18/2023
Nanopb before 0.3.1 allows size_t overflows in pb_dec_bytes and pb_dec_string.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-125106 affects the nanopb library version 0.3.1 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that enables size_t overflows during the decoding of byte arrays and string data. This issue resides within the protocol buffer implementation commonly used in embedded systems and IoT devices where memory constraints and efficient data processing are paramount. The vulnerability specifically impacts the pb_dec_bytes and pb_dec_string functions, which are responsible for decoding binary data and string values from protocol buffer messages.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation and overflow checking within the nanopb library's decoding routines. When processing incoming protocol buffer data, the library fails to properly validate the size parameters associated with byte arrays and string fields, allowing attackers to craft malicious input that causes size_t variables to wrap around or exceed their maximum representable values. This overflow condition can lead to heap corruption, memory access violations, or potentially arbitrary code execution depending on the system architecture and memory layout. The vulnerability manifests when the library attempts to allocate memory based on attacker-controlled size parameters, creating a scenario where legitimate memory operations become corrupted through mathematical overflow conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends significantly across systems utilizing nanopb for protocol buffer processing, particularly in embedded environments, network appliances, and IoT devices where resource constraints make such vulnerabilities especially dangerous. Attackers can exploit this weakness by sending specially crafted protocol buffer messages containing oversized byte array or string fields, potentially leading to denial of service conditions, data corruption, or unauthorized system access. The vulnerability affects systems where nanopb is used for network communication, device configuration, or data exchange protocols, making it a critical concern for any embedded system or networked device that processes external protocol buffer data. The attack surface is broad due to nanopb's widespread adoption in embedded systems and its use in various communication protocols where data integrity is crucial.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-125106 should prioritize immediate upgrade to nanopb version 0.3.1 or later, which includes proper size validation and overflow protection mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation at multiple layers, including protocol buffer parsing, to prevent malformed data from reaching the vulnerable library functions. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure to potentially malicious protocol buffer data sources. Additionally, memory safety practices such as bounds checking, stack canaries, and address space layout randomization should be implemented to reduce the impact of potential exploitation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, Integer Overflow or Wraparound, and represents a classic example of how improper input validation can lead to memory corruption vulnerabilities. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could be leveraged during the execution phase of an attack, potentially enabling privilege escalation or persistent access through memory corruption techniques that are commonly associated with the use of such vulnerabilities in embedded systems.