CVE-2017-10978 in FreeRADIUS
Summary
by MITRE
An FR-GV-201 issue in FreeRADIUS 2.x before 2.2.10 and 3.x before 3.0.15 allows "Read / write overflow in make_secret()" and a denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10978 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the FreeRADIUS authentication server software that affects versions prior to 2.2.10 and 3.0.15. This issue stems from improper memory management in the make_secret() function, which is responsible for generating cryptographic secrets used in RADIUS protocol authentication. The flaw manifests as both read and write buffer overflows, creating potential exploitation vectors that could compromise the integrity and availability of the authentication system. The vulnerability specifically impacts the FR-GV-201 classification, indicating a significant security weakness in the software's cryptographic implementation.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the make_secret() function's inadequate bounds checking when processing user-provided input data. When FreeRADIUS processes authentication requests containing specially crafted secret values, the function fails to properly validate the length of input data before copying it into fixed-size buffers. This classic buffer overflow condition allows attackers to write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries, potentially overwriting adjacent memory locations and corrupting program execution flow. The vulnerability operates at the application layer within the RADIUS protocol stack, specifically affecting the cryptographic secret generation mechanism that underpins authentication security. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-121: Stack-based Buffer Overflow, while the ATT&CK framework would categorize this under T1499.004: Endpoint Denial of Service, as the primary impact manifests through service disruption.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-10978 extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks depending on the system configuration. While the primary effect is a denial of service condition that can crash the FreeRADIUS service and prevent legitimate authentication requests from being processed, the buffer overflow characteristics suggest potential for arbitrary code execution if attackers can control the overflow data. This vulnerability affects organizations relying on FreeRADIUS for network access control, wireless authentication, and VPN services, where authentication failures can lead to complete network access disruption. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where RADIUS servers handle critical network infrastructure authentication, as it could enable attackers to gain unauthorized network access or disrupt legitimate network operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-10978 should prioritize immediate patching of affected FreeRADIUS installations to versions 2.2.10 or 3.0.15 and later. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of RADIUS servers to untrusted networks. Additional defensive measures include monitoring for unusual authentication patterns and implementing intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in cryptographic implementations, aligning with industry best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-145 and ISO/IEC 27001 standards. System administrators should also consider implementing redundant authentication mechanisms and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other network services that may be susceptible to buffer overflow attacks.