CVE-2014-7203 in ZeroMQ
Summary
by MITRE
libzmq (aka ZeroMQ/C++) 4.0.x before 4.0.5 does not ensure that nonces are unique, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to conduct replay attacks via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7203 affects libzmq version 4.0.x prior to 4.0.5, specifically within the ZeroMQ/C++ messaging library that is widely used for high-performance asynchronous messaging in distributed applications. This flaw resides in the security mechanisms designed to prevent replay attacks, which are critical for maintaining the integrity and authenticity of communications in networked systems. The issue manifests when the library fails to properly enforce nonce uniqueness, creating a fundamental weakness in its cryptographic security implementation.
The technical flaw stems from the improper handling of nonces within the authentication and encryption protocols of ZeroMQ's security layer. Nonces are cryptographic values that should be unique for each message or session to prevent attackers from replaying previously captured communications. When nonces are not guaranteed to be unique, malicious actors can capture legitimate messages and replay them at a later time to bypass authentication mechanisms or disrupt system operations. This vulnerability falls under the category of cryptographic weakness and specifically relates to the failure to implement proper random number generation or nonce management within the security protocol implementation. The unspecified vectors indicate that the attack surface is broad and could potentially be exploited through various network communication paths within applications using the vulnerable library.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for any system relying on libzmq for secure communications, particularly in environments where man-in-the-middle attacks are a concern. Attackers can exploit this weakness to conduct successful replay attacks that may lead to unauthorized access, data manipulation, or service disruption. The vulnerability affects distributed applications, microservices architectures, and any system where ZeroMQ is used for inter-process or inter-system communication. Organizations using vulnerable versions may experience security breaches where attackers can replay authenticated messages to gain unauthorized privileges or manipulate system state. This weakness particularly impacts systems that depend on ZeroMQ for secure messaging patterns and could compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of critical communications infrastructure.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2014-7203 involves upgrading to libzmq version 4.0.5 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to ensure proper nonce uniqueness. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as network segmentation, monitoring for unusual communication patterns, and regular security assessments of their messaging infrastructure. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic weaknesses in random number generation, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1566 for credential access through social engineering or network infiltration. System administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the vulnerable library and ensure proper patch management protocols are in place to prevent exploitation of this cryptographic flaw in production environments.