CVE-2014-9651 in CHICKEN
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in CHICKEN 4.9.0.x before 4.9.0.2, 4.9.x before 4.9.1, and before 5.0 allows attackers to have unspecified impact via a positive START argument to the "substring-index[-ci] procedures."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/10/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9651 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw affecting the CHICKEN Scheme implementation version 4.9.0.x before 4.9.0.2 and 4.9.x before 4.9.1, as well as versions prior to 5.0. This security issue stems from improper input validation within the substring-index[-ci] procedures, which are fundamental functions used for string manipulation and pattern matching within the CHICKEN runtime environment. The vulnerability specifically manifests when a positive START argument is provided to these procedures, creating a condition where memory boundaries are exceeded during string processing operations.
The technical nature of this buffer overflow stems from inadequate bounds checking in the implementation of substring-index procedures. When a positive START argument is passed, the CHICKEN interpreter fails to properly validate the argument against the actual string length, allowing an attacker to provide a value that exceeds the allocated buffer boundaries. This flaw falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and more specifically aligns with CWE-787, representing out-of-bounds write operations. The vulnerability can be exploited through crafted input that manipulates the START parameter to cause memory corruption, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it can enable attackers to execute malicious code within the context of the CHICKEN interpreter. This represents a significant risk for applications that rely on CHICKEN for web applications, scripting environments, or any system where user input is processed through substring-index operations. The unspecified impact mentioned in the CVE description suggests that the vulnerability could potentially lead to complete system compromise, data corruption, or information disclosure depending on the execution environment and how the interpreter is deployed. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to bypass security controls, escalate privileges, or gain unauthorized access to systems running vulnerable CHICKEN implementations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-9651 focus primarily on upgrading to patched versions of CHICKEN, specifically versions 4.9.0.2, 4.9.1, or 5.0 and later. Organizations should also implement input validation measures at application level to sanitize any user-provided START arguments before passing them to substring-index procedures. Additional defensive measures include runtime monitoring for suspicious memory access patterns and implementing application sandboxing to limit the potential impact of exploitation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving buffer overflow exploitation and privilege escalation, with potential TTPs including execution through interpreted languages and code injection attacks. System administrators should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable systems to potential attackers.