CVE-2014-6273 in apt
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the HTTP transport code in apt-get in APT 1.0.1 and earlier allows man-in-the-middle attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6273 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the HTTP transport implementation of the Advanced Package Tool APT version 1.0.1 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically affects the apt-get utility which serves as the primary package management tool for Debian-based Linux distributions including Ubuntu. The flaw exists in how the system processes HTTP URLs during package retrieval operations, creating a condition where maliciously crafted URLs can trigger memory corruption.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a buffer overflow in the URL parsing and handling code within APT's HTTP transport layer. When apt-get encounters a specially crafted URL containing overly long or malformed components, the application fails to properly validate input lengths before copying data into fixed-size buffers. This classic buffer overflow condition allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system crash. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered during routine package updates, making it an ideal target for man-in-the-middle attacks where an attacker intercepts network traffic between the client and package repositories.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for systems using affected APT versions. An attacker who can intercept network traffic or compromise a package repository can craft malicious URLs that cause apt-get to crash or potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the package manager. This could lead to complete system compromise, especially if the affected system is running with elevated privileges. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where automated package updates are common, as it could be exploited without user interaction during routine maintenance operations. The flaw aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and demonstrates how improper input validation can lead to remote code execution.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2014-6273 involves immediate patching of APT to version 1.0.2 or later, which includes proper bounds checking and input validation in the HTTP transport code. System administrators should also implement network-level protections such as DNS security extensions and certificate pinning to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks that could exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network monitoring to detect suspicious URL patterns and ensure that package repositories are accessed through secure channels. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in network protocols and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter execution, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands on vulnerable systems. Organizations should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate similar buffer overflow conditions in other network-facing applications.