CVE-2014-7141 in Squid
Summary
by MITRE
The pinger in Squid 3.x before 3.4.8 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information or cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read and crash) via a crafted type in an (1) ICMP or (2) ICMP6 packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7141 affects Squid proxy server versions 3.x prior to 3.4.8, specifically targeting the pinger component responsible for network connectivity testing. This critical flaw resides in how Squid processes incoming Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) and ICMP6 packets, creating a pathway for remote attackers to exploit the system through malformed packet structures. The vulnerability manifests as an out-of-bounds read condition that can lead to information disclosure and system instability, representing a significant security risk for organizations relying on Squid as their primary proxy solution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the pinger module's packet parsing logic. When Squid receives crafted ICMP or ICMP6 packets containing maliciously constructed type fields, the system fails to properly bounds-check the data before processing it. This oversight allows attackers to manipulate the packet structure in such a way that subsequent memory access operations read beyond allocated buffer boundaries. The flaw operates at the protocol level where Squid's pinger component is designed to test network connectivity by sending and receiving ICMP echo requests, but the parsing logic does not adequately validate the incoming packet headers and content. This represents a classic buffer over-read vulnerability that aligns with CWE-125, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions in software implementations.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-7141 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass potential information disclosure risks that could expose sensitive system data. Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability to trigger system crashes or cause the Squid process to read memory locations that contain confidential information such as authentication tokens, session data, or internal system configurations. The out-of-bounds read condition may also enable attackers to gather information about memory layout and system state, potentially facilitating more sophisticated attacks. Organizations using affected Squid versions face the risk of unauthorized access to their network infrastructure, as the vulnerability allows remote exploitation without requiring authentication. This makes it particularly dangerous in environments where Squid serves as a gateway for network traffic, as attackers could leverage the vulnerability to gain insights into internal network topology and system configurations.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is particularly concerning due to its remote nature and the common usage of Squid proxy servers in enterprise environments. Attackers can simply send crafted ICMP or ICMP6 packets to the target system, making the exploitation relatively straightforward and requiring no special privileges or local access. The vulnerability affects both IPv4 and IPv6 implementations within Squid, increasing its attack surface across modern network environments. From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and T1499.004 for network disruption, as it enables both information disclosure and denial of service capabilities. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader security posture assessment, particularly in environments where proxy servers are exposed to untrusted network traffic or where network monitoring systems might be compromised through information disclosure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7141 primarily focus on immediate software updates to Squid 3.4.8 or later versions where the vulnerability has been patched. System administrators should prioritize deployment of the official security patches released by the Squid project, as these updates contain proper bounds checking and input validation mechanisms that prevent the out-of-bounds read conditions. Additionally, network-level defenses such as firewall rules that restrict ICMP traffic to only trusted sources can provide temporary protection while patches are being deployed. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual ICMP traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability's impact is most pronounced when attackers send specifically crafted packets designed to trigger the buffer over-read condition. Network segmentation strategies that limit direct access to Squid proxy servers from untrusted networks can further reduce the attack surface, while regular security assessments should verify that the patched systems are properly configured to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of the network infrastructure.