CVE-2015-2310 in Cap'n Proto
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in layout.c++ in Sandstorm Cap'n Proto before 0.4.1.1 and 0.5.x before 0.5.1.1 allows remote peers to cause a denial of service or possibly obtain sensitive information from memory via a crafted message, related to pointer validation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-2310 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the Cap'n Proto serialization framework, specifically in the layout.c++ file of Sandstorm Cap'n Proto versions prior to 0.4.1.1 and 0.5.x versions before 0.5.1.1. This issue falls under the CWE-190 category of integer overflow and under the ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of pointer validation during message processing, creating a scenario where remote adversaries can manipulate serialized data to trigger malformed integer calculations that exceed maximum representable values.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a remote peer crafts a specially designed message that contains malicious pointer values or size indicators that, when processed by the vulnerable Cap'n Proto library, cause integer overflow conditions. This overflow can result in memory corruption or incorrect pointer arithmetic that leads to either denial of service through application crashes or potentially allows attackers to read sensitive data from adjacent memory locations. The flaw specifically impacts the layout validation mechanisms that are responsible for ensuring proper memory alignment and pointer bounds checking during deserialization operations.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems utilizing Cap'n Proto for inter-process communication or data serialization, particularly in distributed applications, microservices architectures, or any environment where untrusted data flows through the framework. The remote attack vector means that adversaries can exploit this without requiring local access or authentication, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments. The potential for information disclosure adds an additional layer of risk beyond simple denial of service, as attackers might be able to extract sensitive information from memory segments that are not properly protected.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-2310 primarily involve upgrading to patched versions of Sandstorm Cap'n Proto, specifically versions 0.4.1.1 or 0.5.1.1 and later. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of systems running vulnerable versions. Input validation measures and monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns can help detect exploitation attempts. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing runtime protections such as address space layout randomization and stack canaries to reduce the impact of potential exploitation. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust integer handling and memory safety practices in serialization frameworks, emphasizing that proper bounds checking and overflow detection mechanisms are essential for maintaining system integrity in distributed computing environments.