CVE-2016-8390 in Dissassembler
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable out of bounds write vulnerability exists in the parsing of ELF Section Headers of Hopper Dissassembler 3.11.20. A specially crafted ELF file can cause attacker controlled pointer arithmetic resulting in a partially controlled out of bounds write. An attacker can craft an ELF file with specific section headers to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/14/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8390 represents a critical out-of-bounds write flaw within Hopper Disassembler version 3.11.20 that stems from improper handling of ELF (Executable and Linkable Format) section headers during the parsing process. This issue falls under the category of memory corruption vulnerabilities and specifically manifests as a buffer overflow condition that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability is classified as an out-of-bounds write according to the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE-787) which describes weaknesses that occur when a program writes data past the boundaries of a fixed-length buffer. The flaw exists in the disassembler's ELF parsing routine where it fails to properly validate the number of section headers or their offsets, allowing an attacker to manipulate the parsing logic through crafted section header data.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting a malicious ELF file with specifically designed section headers that trigger pointer arithmetic operations controlled by attacker input. When Hopper Disassembler processes this crafted file, the parsing code performs calculations based on the section header information without adequate bounds checking, resulting in memory writes that extend beyond the intended buffer boundaries. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows for partial control over the memory location and data being written, enabling potential exploitation through techniques such as heap spraying or return-oriented programming. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic flaw in input validation and memory management where the application assumes the section header data is trustworthy without proper sanitization or bounds verification.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-8390 extends beyond simple code execution as it represents a significant threat to software security and integrity. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially gain complete control over the disassembler application, which could lead to unauthorized code execution, data exfiltration, or system compromise. The attack surface is particularly concerning because disassemblers are frequently used by security researchers and developers for analyzing potentially malicious code, meaning that an attacker could craft an ELF file that appears legitimate but contains malicious payloads designed to exploit this vulnerability. This creates a dangerous scenario where the very tools used for security analysis become potential attack vectors, violating the principle of least privilege and trust in security tools.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate code-level fixes and broader security practices. The primary solution involves implementing proper bounds checking and input validation within the ELF parsing routines, ensuring that all section header calculations are verified against expected ranges and buffer sizes. Security practitioners should also implement application sandboxing and privilege separation techniques to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. According to the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability could be categorized under T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1070 (Indicator Removal on Host) as exploitation may involve executing malicious code and potentially covering tracks. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based detection measures that monitor for suspicious ELF file patterns and ensure that Hopper Disassembler is updated to versions that contain the necessary patches. Additionally, security awareness training should emphasize the risks of analyzing untrusted binary files and the importance of using updated security tools to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.