CVE-2017-15047 in Redis
Summary
by MITRE
The clusterLoadConfig function in cluster.c in Redis 4.0.2 allows attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds array index and application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact by leveraging "limited access to the machine."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15047 resides within the clusterLoadConfig function of Redis version 4.0.2, specifically in the cluster.c file. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that can be exploited by attackers who have gained limited access to the target machine. The vulnerability manifests through improper input validation and boundary checking mechanisms within the cluster configuration loading process, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the application's memory structures.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the clusterLoadConfig function processes cluster configuration data without adequate bounds checking on array indices. This allows an attacker with local access to craft malicious cluster configuration inputs that can trigger out-of-bounds memory access patterns. The flaw specifically targets the array indexing mechanisms used during cluster configuration parsing, where the application fails to validate the size and boundaries of input arrays before accessing them. This type of vulnerability is classified as a buffer over-read condition under CWE-125 and can be categorized as a memory safety error in the context of software security.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-15047 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as it can potentially lead to application crashes and system instability. When exploited successfully, the vulnerability can cause the Redis cluster daemon to terminate unexpectedly, resulting in service disruption for applications that depend on Redis for data storage and caching operations. The crash occurs due to the application attempting to access memory locations outside the allocated array boundaries, which can lead to segmentation faults or other memory access violations that cause the process to terminate. This behavior aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service and can be leveraged as part of broader attack strategies targeting system availability.
From a security perspective, the vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only limited local access to the target machine, making it accessible to attackers who have already compromised the system through other means. This characteristic makes the vulnerability suitable for privilege escalation attacks or lateral movement within compromised environments where attackers can leverage local access to gain more significant system control. The vulnerability's impact is further amplified by Redis's widespread use in production environments, where cluster configurations are often managed through automated processes that may be susceptible to this type of manipulation. Organizations should consider implementing additional access controls and monitoring mechanisms to detect and prevent exploitation of this vulnerability, as it represents a potential entry point for more sophisticated attacks targeting Redis cluster configurations and their associated data integrity.