CVE-2015-1817 in Libc
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in the inet_pton function in network/inet_pton.c in musl libc 0.9.15 through 1.0.4, and 1.1.0 through 1.1.7 allows attackers to have unspecified impact via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2020
The CVE-2015-1817 vulnerability represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within the musl libc library's inet_pton function, affecting versions ranging from 0.9.15 through 1.0.4 and 1.1.0 through 1.1.7. This vulnerability resides in the network/inet_pton.c source file and demonstrates the dangerous consequences of improper input validation in system-level networking functions. The inet_pton function serves as a crucial component for parsing IPv4 and IPv6 addresses from text format, making it a fundamental building block in network applications and system operations. The flaw manifests when processing malformed input data, creating opportunities for attackers to exploit memory corruption vulnerabilities that can lead to arbitrary code execution or system instability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking within the inet_pton implementation, specifically in how it handles input validation for IP address parsing operations. When maliciously crafted input is passed to this function, the stack buffer allocated for processing becomes overflowed, potentially overwriting adjacent memory locations including return addresses, function pointers, and other critical program state information. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is classified as a high-risk vulnerability category that directly enables privilege escalation and remote code execution attacks. The stack-based nature of the overflow means that the attacker can precisely control the overwritten memory locations, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for exploitation purposes.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1817 extends far beyond simple memory corruption, as musl libc serves as the standard C library for numerous Linux distributions including Alpine Linux, busybox, and various embedded systems. This widespread adoption means that vulnerable systems across multiple platforms and architectures could be compromised, potentially affecting web servers, network appliances, embedded devices, and containerized applications that rely on musl for networking operations. The unspecified impact mentioned in the CVE description reflects the broad range of potential consequences including system crashes, privilege escalation, and complete system compromise, depending on the specific exploitation vector and target environment. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected process, potentially leading to full system compromise when targeting critical system services or applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected musl libc versions to either 1.0.5 or 1.1.8, which contain the necessary fixes for the buffer overflow condition. System administrators should prioritize updating their environments, particularly in production systems where network services are exposed to untrusted input sources. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can help reduce the attack surface by limiting exposure to potentially vulnerable services. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in system-level libraries, reinforcing principles from the ATT&CK framework that emphasize the need for secure coding practices and defensive programming techniques. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime protections such as stack canaries and address space layout randomization to make exploitation more difficult, though these measures provide only partial protection against well-crafted attacks targeting this specific vulnerability.