CVE-2014-3000 in FreeBSD
Summary
by MITRE
The TCP reassembly function in the inet module in FreeBSD 8.3 before p16, 8.4 before p9, 9.1 before p12, 9.2 before p5, and 10.0 before p2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (undefined memory access and system crash) or possibly read system memory via multiple crafted packets, related to moving a reassemble queue entry to the segment list when the queue is full.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3000 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the TCP reassembly functionality of FreeBSD operating systems. This issue resides in the inet module's handling of network packet reassembly processes, specifically when dealing with scenarios where the reassembly queue reaches its capacity limit. The flaw manifests when the system attempts to move a reassemble queue entry to the segment list under conditions of queue fullness, creating a dangerous state that can lead to system instability and potential information disclosure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory management during TCP reassembly operations. When multiple crafted packets are transmitted to a FreeBSD system, the TCP reassembly mechanism encounters a condition where it attempts to move an entry from a full reassembly queue to a segment list without proper validation of the queue state. This improper state transition results in undefined memory access patterns that can trigger system crashes or allow unauthorized memory reads. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, making it an attractive target for denial of service attacks.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for FreeBSD systems deployed in production environments. The potential for system crashes means that services relying on these systems could experience unexpected downtime, leading to service disruption and potential business impact. Additionally, the possibility of memory reading capabilities introduces information disclosure risks, where attackers might extract sensitive data from system memory. The vulnerability affects multiple FreeBSD versions including 8.3, 8.4, 9.1, 9.2, and 10.0, indicating a widespread exposure across the FreeBSD ecosystem and requiring immediate attention from system administrators.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a classic example of memory safety issues that fall under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation and memory management practices that can be addressed through proper bounds checking and state validation during queue operations. Organizations should implement immediate patches to address this vulnerability, as the remote exploitation capability makes it particularly dangerous in networked environments. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this vulnerability under the T1499.004 technique for Network Denial of Service, with potential for T1567.002 for remote services exploitation.
The mitigation strategy should involve applying the official FreeBSD security patches that address the specific queue management logic in the inet module. System administrators should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect unusual packet patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additional defensive measures include configuring firewalls to limit TCP reassembly processing and implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify potential exploitation patterns. Organizations should also conduct thorough testing of patched systems to ensure that the remediation does not introduce performance regressions in normal operations while maintaining the security benefits of the fix.