CVE-2014-3512 in OpenSSL
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in crypto/srp/srp_lib.c in the SRP implementation in OpenSSL 1.0.1 before 1.0.1i allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via an invalid SRP (1) g, (2) A, or (3) B parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3512 represents a critical buffer overflow issue within the Secure Remote Password (SRP) implementation of OpenSSL versions prior to 1.0.1i. This flaw exists in the crypto/srp/srp_lib.c file and specifically targets the SRP protocol parameters g, A, and B which are fundamental components of the authentication mechanism. The SRP protocol is designed to provide secure password-based authentication without requiring the password to be transmitted in cleartext, making it a critical component in many cryptographic implementations. The vulnerability arises from inadequate input validation and bounds checking within the SRP parameter processing functions, creating opportunities for malicious actors to exploit memory corruption through carefully crafted invalid parameters.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker sends malformed SRP parameters to a vulnerable OpenSSL implementation. The buffer overflow conditions manifest when the implementation processes invalid values for the generator parameter g, or the public key components A and B. These parameters are typically 128-bit or larger values that must be properly validated and constrained within expected memory boundaries. When the SRP implementation fails to validate parameter sizes or properly handle edge cases, attackers can cause memory corruption that leads to application crashes or potentially more severe consequences. The vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios that can occur when insufficient bounds checking is performed on dynamic memory allocations.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-3512 extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially encompass arbitrary code execution or information disclosure depending on the specific implementation details and memory layout. In a typical scenario, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability to crash services that rely on OpenSSL for SRP-based authentication, effectively causing a denial of service against legitimate users. However, the unspecified other impacts mentioned in the vulnerability description suggest that under certain conditions, attackers might be able to leverage the buffer overflow for more sophisticated attacks. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation of software vulnerabilities for privilege escalation or arbitrary code execution, and T1499, which addresses disruption of services through resource exhaustion or application crashes.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate patching of OpenSSL installations to version 1.0.1i or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the buffer overflow conditions. Organizations should also implement network-level protections such as rate limiting and parameter validation at the application layer to reduce the attack surface. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual authentication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The fix implemented in OpenSSL 1.0.1i includes proper bounds checking for SRP parameters and enhanced input validation that prevents the overflow conditions from occurring. Security teams should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify attempts to send malformed SRP parameters and maintain comprehensive logging of authentication attempts for forensic analysis. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to ensure that all OpenSSL components are properly updated and that no other similar buffer overflow conditions exist in the cryptographic infrastructure.