CVE-2014-3513 in Xcode
Summary
by MITRE
Memory leak in d1_srtp.c in the DTLS SRTP extension in OpenSSL 1.0.1 before 1.0.1j allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption) via a crafted handshake message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/16/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3513 represents a critical memory leak flaw within the OpenSSL implementation of the DTLS Secure Real-time Transport Protocol extension. This issue specifically affects OpenSSL versions 1.0.1 through 1.0.1i, where the memory management routines in the d1_srtp.c file fail to properly release allocated memory during the processing of crafted DTLS handshake messages. The flaw resides in the Secure Real-time Transport Protocol implementation that enables encrypted media streaming over DTLS connections, making it particularly concerning for applications utilizing VoIP, video conferencing, and other real-time multimedia services.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers craft malicious DTLS handshake messages that trigger the memory leak condition within the OpenSSL library. During the DTLS handshake process, the library allocates memory structures to handle SRTP security parameters and session information. However, due to improper memory deallocation logic in the d1_srtp.c module, allocated memory blocks are not properly freed when processing these malformed handshake messages. This results in a gradual accumulation of unreleased memory segments that persist throughout the application lifecycle, ultimately leading to excessive memory consumption.
The operational impact of this memory leak vulnerability extends beyond simple resource exhaustion, creating significant security implications for systems relying on OpenSSL for DTLS communications. Attackers can repeatedly send crafted handshake messages to target systems, causing progressive memory consumption that eventually leads to system instability or complete denial of service conditions. The vulnerability affects any application or service that utilizes OpenSSL's DTLS SRTP functionality, including web servers, media streaming platforms, and network infrastructure components that implement secure real-time communication protocols. This makes it particularly dangerous in production environments where continuous service availability is critical.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-3513 primarily focus on immediate software updates and system hardening measures. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to OpenSSL version 1.0.1j or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the memory leak condition in the d1_srtp.c module. Additionally, implementing network-level monitoring and rate limiting for DTLS handshake messages can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-401, which categorizes memory leak issues in software systems, and represents a classic example of how improper memory management can create denial of service conditions that are difficult to detect and prevent without proper patch management protocols. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to the T1499.004 technique related to network denial of service, where adversaries leverage memory exhaustion to disrupt service availability. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify unusual memory consumption patterns and establish regular security audits to ensure all OpenSSL components are properly updated and maintained.