CVE-2016-10519 in bittorrent-dht
Summary
by MITRE
A security issue was found in bittorrent-dht before 5.1.3 that allows someone to send a specific series of messages to a listening peer and get it to reveal internal memory.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10519 represents a critical memory disclosure issue within the bittorrent-dht library version 5.1.2 and earlier. This security flaw resides in the decentralized hash table implementation that forms the backbone of bittorrent's peer discovery mechanism. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management practices within the protocol handling code, specifically when processing incoming messages from remote peers. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting and transmitting a particular sequence of DHT protocol messages to a target system running an affected version of the library.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a carefully constructed series of DHT messages that trigger memory corruption or improper memory access patterns within the listening peer. When the vulnerable software processes these malicious messages, it inadvertently exposes internal memory contents to the attacker through the response mechanisms. This memory disclosure can reveal sensitive information including stack contents, heap data, or other internal state information that may contain credentials, cryptographic keys, or other confidential data. The flaw operates at the protocol level, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication or privileged access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked memory contents can provide attackers with valuable insights into the target system's internal workings. This information can be leveraged to facilitate further attacks, including buffer overflow exploitation, information gathering for targeted attacks, or even privilege escalation attempts. The vulnerability affects any system that utilizes the affected version of bittorrent-dht library, including torrent clients, bittorrent trackers, and any other software implementing the DHT protocol. The attack surface is particularly broad given the widespread use of bittorrent protocols in various network applications and peer-to-peer systems.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability primarily involve updating to version 5.1.3 or later of the bittorrent-dht library, which includes proper input validation and memory handling mechanisms. Organizations should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all systems using affected versions of the library and implement immediate patching procedures. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual message patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure," and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059 for remote code execution through protocol manipulation. Additional defensive measures include implementing rate limiting on DHT message processing and configuring intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious message sequences that match the exploitation pattern.