CVE-2017-12464 in CCN-lite
Summary
by MITRE
ccn-lite-valid.c in CCN-lite before 2.00 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference) via vectors involving the keyfile variable.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-12464 resides within the ccn-lite-valid.c component of CCN-lite software version 2.00 and earlier. This represents a critical denial of service weakness that can be exploited by context-dependent attackers to disrupt system operations through a NULL pointer dereference condition. The vulnerability specifically manifests when processing vectors related to the keyfile variable, indicating that the software fails to properly validate or handle null references during cryptographic validation operations. This flaw exists in the content-centric networking validation functionality that is integral to CCN-lite's operation as a lightweight content-centric networking implementation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the cryptographic validation module. When the software processes keyfile variables during content validation, it does not sufficiently check for null or invalid pointer conditions before attempting to dereference memory addresses. This NULL pointer dereference represents a classic software flaw that can be leveraged by attackers to crash the application or service. The vulnerability's context-dependent nature suggests that exploitation requires specific conditions or inputs that trigger the problematic code path involving the keyfile variable, making it more challenging to exploit but still potentially dangerous in environments where CCN-lite is deployed.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-12464 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the availability of content-centric networking services. In network environments where CCN-lite serves as a core component for content delivery and validation, a successful exploitation could result in complete service outages, affecting multiple users and applications that depend on the content distribution infrastructure. The vulnerability affects systems implementing CCN-lite for content validation, particularly those handling cryptographic key management and certificate validation processes. Organizations using this software in production environments face significant risk of operational disruption, especially in scenarios where automated validation processes are critical to system functionality.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-12464 should prioritize immediate software updates to CCN-lite version 2.00 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the NULL pointer dereference issue. System administrators should also implement input validation measures to prevent malformed keyfile data from reaching the vulnerable code paths, though this represents a secondary mitigation approach. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference conditions, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify systems running affected CCN-lite versions and establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing proper error handling and input validation mechanisms within custom applications that interface with CCN-lite can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against similar vulnerabilities.