CVE-2017-12959 in PSPP
Summary
by MITRE
There is a reachable assertion abort in the function dict_add_mrset() in data/dictionary.c of the libpspp library in GNU PSPP 0.11.0 that will lead to a remote denial of service attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-12959 represents a critical remote denial of service flaw within the GNU PSPP statistical analysis software suite. This issue manifests in the libpspp library component, specifically within the data/dictionary.c source file where the dict_add_mrset() function contains a reachable assertion abort condition. The flaw occurs during processing of dictionary data structures that handle missing value sets, making it exploitable through crafted input data that triggers the assertion failure. The vulnerability affects GNU PSPP version 0.11.0, which is a widely used statistical analysis tool for social science research and data processing. When exploited, this assertion abort causes the application to terminate abruptly, effectively denying service to legitimate users who attempt to process data through the affected software.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the dict_add_mrset() function, which fails to properly handle malformed or unexpected data structures during dictionary processing operations. The assertion abort occurs when the function encounters data that violates expected constraints or invariants within the dictionary management system. This particular flaw falls under the category of improper input validation and can be classified as a CWE-617: Reachable Assertion, which is a specific weakness pattern that leads to denial of service conditions when assertions are triggered by malicious input. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered remotely through network-based data processing operations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations relying on GNU PSPP for data analysis and statistical processing. The remote denial of service condition can be exploited by attackers who send specially crafted data files or network packets that trigger the assertion abort during normal processing operations. This attack vector is particularly concerning because it can be executed without authentication requirements and can affect systems processing legitimate data analysis tasks. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption, as it can disrupt critical research workflows, data processing pipelines, and statistical analysis operations that organizations depend upon for decision-making processes. Security professionals should note that the vulnerability can be leveraged to cause persistent service disruption in environments where PSPP is used for automated data processing or batch operations.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve applying the official patch released by the GNU PSPP development team, which addresses the assertion abort condition by implementing proper input validation and error handling within the dict_add_mrset() function. System administrators should prioritize updating their GNU PSPP installations to versions that contain the fix, as the vulnerability has been classified as a security risk by multiple vulnerability databases and security organizations. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potential attackers, while monitoring for suspicious data processing activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, defensive measures such as input sanitization and data validation routines can help reduce the attack surface, though these are secondary mitigations compared to the official software patch. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust assertion handling in security-critical applications and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004: Endpoint Denial of Service, which specifically addresses denial of service attacks targeting endpoint systems. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning processes to identify and remediate similar issues across their software inventory, as this type of assertion-based vulnerability can potentially exist in other components of the software ecosystem.