CVE-2017-15300 in Cuda Zcash Miner
Summary
by MITRE
The miner statistics HTTP API in EWBF Cuda Zcash Miner Version 0.3.4b hangs on incoming TCP connections until some sort of request is made (such as "GET / HTTP/1.1"), which allows for a Denial of Service attack preventing a user from viewing their mining statistics by an attacker opening a session with telnet or netcat and connecting to the miner on the HTTP API port.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15300 resides within the EWBF Cuda Zcash Miner version 0.3.4b, specifically affecting its HTTP API implementation designed for monitoring mining statistics. This flaw represents a classic denial of service condition where the system fails to properly handle incoming network connections, creating a window of opportunity for malicious actors to disrupt legitimate user access to critical mining information. The vulnerability manifests through the miner's HTTP API service which remains unresponsive to connection attempts until a specific HTTP request is received, effectively creating a service disruption that prevents authorized users from accessing their mining statistics.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of TCP connection states within the HTTP API implementation. When an attacker establishes a TCP connection to the miner's API port using tools such as telnet or netcat, the system accepts the connection but fails to process it properly until a complete HTTP request is received. This design flaw creates a resource exhaustion scenario where connection slots become tied up indefinitely, preventing legitimate users from establishing connections to view their mining statistics. The vulnerability specifically affects the HTTP API port and demonstrates poor connection management practices that are commonly addressed through proper protocol implementation and resource allocation strategies.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it directly affects the usability and monitoring capabilities of cryptocurrency miners. Users relying on the HTTP API for real-time statistics monitoring face complete access denial when attackers exploit this weakness, potentially leading to operational inefficiencies and loss of confidence in the mining infrastructure. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires minimal technical expertise to execute, making it accessible to threat actors with basic networking knowledge. This vulnerability essentially allows an attacker to perform a simple port scanning and connection establishment attack that renders the mining statistics interface completely unusable for legitimate users.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper connection handling protocols and resource management within the HTTP API implementation. The most effective approach involves modifying the API service to immediately process incoming connections and either respond with appropriate HTTP status codes or terminate connections that remain inactive beyond a predetermined timeout period. Network administrators should consider implementing firewall rules to restrict access to the mining API port to trusted IP addresses only, while also ensuring that the miner software is updated to a version that addresses this specific flaw. Additionally, implementing connection rate limiting and timeout mechanisms would prevent the accumulation of idle connections that contribute to the denial of service condition. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-400 which categorizes improper handling of resource exhaustion conditions, and represents a typical ATT&CK technique for service disruption through resource exhaustion attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect unusual connection patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability creates predictable behavioral signatures that can be automated for detection purposes.