CVE-2017-12470 in CCN-lite
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in the ndn_parse_sequence function in CCN-lite before 2.00 allows context-dependent attackers to have unspecified impact via vectors involving the typ and vallen variables.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-12470 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the CCN-lite software library, specifically within the ndn_parse_sequence function. This issue affects versions prior to 2.00 and demonstrates a classic software security weakness that can lead to unpredictable system behavior and potential exploitation. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of integer values during the parsing of Named Data Networking (NDN) protocol sequences, creating conditions where attackers can manipulate the typ and vallen variables to trigger overflow conditions that compromise system integrity.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under the CWE-190 category of integer overflow, which occurs when a program attempts to store a value that exceeds the maximum limit of the integer data type being used. In the context of CCN-lite, the ndn_parse_sequence function processes incoming NDN messages and their associated metadata, where the typ variable typically represents the type of data element being parsed while vallen contains the length value. When these variables are not properly validated against their maximum representable values, an attacker can craft malicious input that causes integer overflow conditions, potentially leading to memory corruption or arbitrary code execution.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant risk for systems utilizing CCN-lite for content-centric networking applications. The unspecified impact mentioned in the CVE description indicates that the consequences can vary widely depending on the execution environment and system configuration, ranging from denial of service conditions to more severe exploitation scenarios. Attackers with context-dependent access can leverage this flaw to manipulate the parsing logic, potentially causing buffer overflows, memory corruption, or other undefined behaviors that could be exploited to gain unauthorized access to the affected system.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends to any application or service that relies on CCN-lite for processing NDN protocol messages, particularly those handling untrusted input from network sources. According to ATT&CK framework considerations, this vulnerability could be categorized under technique T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) when exploited in network-based scenarios, or T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) if the overflow leads to code execution with elevated privileges. The context-dependent nature of the attack means that successful exploitation typically requires an attacker to have some level of access to the network or system to craft and inject malicious sequences that trigger the overflow condition.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-12470 primarily focus on upgrading to CCN-lite version 2.00 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the integer overflow conditions. Organizations should also implement input validation measures that constrain the values of typ and vallen variables before they are processed by the parsing function. Additional defensive measures include network segmentation to limit exposure, monitoring for anomalous parsing behavior, and implementing runtime protections such as address space layout randomization and stack canaries to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of systems using CCN-lite to identify potential exposure and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place to prevent similar issues from occurring in other components of the network infrastructure.