CVE-2014-4909 in Transmission
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in the tr_bitfieldEnsureNthBitAlloced function in bitfield.c in Transmission before 2.84 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted peer message, which triggers an out-of-bounds write.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4909 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the Transmission BitTorrent client software. This vulnerability exists in the tr_bitfieldEnsureNthBitAlloced function located in the bitfield.c source file, affecting all versions prior to 2.84. The flaw stems from improper handling of integer arithmetic during bitfield allocation operations, creating a condition where maliciously crafted peer messages can trigger unexpected behavior in the software's memory management systems.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, which categorizes integer overflow conditions that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. When a remote attacker sends a specially crafted peer message, the tr_bitfieldEnsureNthBitAlloced function processes the input data without adequate bounds checking. This processing results in an integer overflow that subsequently causes an out-of-bounds write operation, where the application attempts to write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries of the bitfield structure. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with the ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves network denial of service attacks through exploitation of software vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enable remote code execution, making it particularly dangerous for users running Transmission as a torrent client. Attackers can exploit this flaw by sending malicious peer messages that manipulate the bitfield allocation logic, causing memory corruption that may be leveraged to execute arbitrary code on the victim's system. The vulnerability affects Transmission clients that are actively participating in BitTorrent networks, making it relevant to a wide range of users including those running home servers, media centers, or any system that processes BitTorrent traffic.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-4909 require immediate patching of Transmission installations to version 2.84 or later, where the integer overflow has been properly addressed through enhanced bounds checking and input validation. System administrators should also implement network-level protections such as firewall rules that limit peer communication to trusted sources, and consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify and block suspicious peer messages. Additionally, organizations should maintain regular software update procedures and conduct vulnerability assessments to identify similar integer overflow conditions that may exist in other networked applications. The fix implemented in Transmission 2.84 demonstrates proper defensive programming practices by ensuring that all integer operations are validated against maximum allowable values before memory allocation occurs, preventing the overflow condition that led to the out-of-bounds write vulnerability.