CVE-2017-15385 in radare2
Summary
by MITRE
The store_versioninfo_gnu_verdef function in libr/bin/format/elf/elf.c in radare2 2.0.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (r_read_le16 invalid write and application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted ELF file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15385 resides within the radare2 reverse engineering framework, specifically in the ELF binary parsing functionality. This issue affects version 2.0.0 of the software and stems from improper handling of ELF file structures during version definition processing. The flaw manifests in the store_versioninfo_gnu_verdef function located in libr/bin/format/elf/elf.c, which processes GNU version definition entries within ELF binaries. When encountering a malformed or specially crafted ELF file, this function fails to properly validate input data before performing memory operations, creating a critical security gap that can be exploited remotely.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a classic buffer overread condition that occurs when r_read_le16 is invoked with invalid parameters. This function attempts to read 16-bit little-endian values from memory locations that may not contain valid data or may be improperly aligned. The flaw creates an invalid write operation that corrupts memory regions and ultimately leads to application crash or potential arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics of CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of array indices, and CWE-787, concerning out-of-bounds write operations. The improper input validation occurs during ELF parsing when the application attempts to process version definition entries without sufficient bounds checking on the input structure.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to security researchers and analysts who rely on radare2 for binary analysis. Attackers can craft malicious ELF files that, when loaded by radare2, trigger the denial of service condition and potentially lead to more severe consequences. The remote exploitation capability means that adversaries could deliver malicious payloads through file sharing platforms, vulnerability scanners, or automated analysis systems that utilize radare2. This vulnerability impacts the availability of the analysis environment and could be leveraged in broader attack chains where automated binary analysis tools are targeted. The potential for unspecified other impacts suggests that this could serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, potentially enabling privilege escalation or information disclosure depending on the execution context.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability involve immediate patching of radare2 to version 2.1.0 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for proper input validation and memory handling. System administrators should also implement defensive measures such as restricting access to potentially malicious files through sandboxing or file type validation. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 for execution through command-line interfaces and T1068 for privilege escalation, indicating the potential for escalation if the application runs with elevated privileges. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring for suspicious file analysis activities, particularly when using automated analysis systems that may be vulnerable to this class of attack. Additionally, input validation should be enhanced at multiple layers to prevent similar issues in other binary parsing components, aligning with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST Cybersecurity Framework.