CVE-2014-6228 in HipHop Virtual Machine
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in the string_chunk_split function in hphp/runtime/base/zend-string.cpp in Facebook HipHop Virtual Machine (HHVM) before 3.3.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via crafted arguments to the chunk_split function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6228 represents a critical integer overflow condition within the Facebook HipHop Virtual Machine's string processing capabilities. This flaw exists in the string_chunk_split function located in the hphp/runtime/base/zend-string.cpp file, specifically affecting HHVM versions prior to 3.3.0. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and arithmetic overflow handling when processing string chunking operations, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the function's behavior through carefully crafted input parameters.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the fundamental principle of integer arithmetic overflow, where the function fails to properly validate the size parameters passed to the chunk_split function. When attackers provide maliciously constructed arguments, the integer overflow can cause the application to allocate insufficient memory or perform invalid memory operations, leading to application instability and potential system crashes. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions, and falls under the broader category of memory safety issues that have historically been exploited for denial of service attacks and potentially more severe consequences.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as demonstrated by the unspecified other impacts mentioned in the CVE description. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to cause application crashes that may result in complete service interruption, requiring system administrators to restart affected services and potentially leading to extended downtime. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require local system access, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where HHVM serves web applications. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and T1059.007, which encompasses script-based attacks targeting web applications.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2014-6228 requires immediate patching of affected HHVM installations to version 3.3.0 or later, where the integer overflow protection has been implemented. Organizations should also implement input validation measures to prevent malformed data from reaching the chunk_split function, though this approach is considered less reliable than proper patching. System administrators should monitor affected systems for signs of exploitation attempts and implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful attacks. Additionally, regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar integer overflow conditions in other components of the application stack, as these types of arithmetic errors remain prevalent in software development and represent a significant class of security vulnerabilities that require careful attention to proper integer handling and bounds checking.