CVE-2017-15931 in radare2
Summary
by MITRE
In radare2 2.0.1, an integer exception (negative number leading to an invalid memory access) exists in store_versioninfo_gnu_verneed() in libr/bin/format/elf/elf.c via crafted ELF files on 32bit systems.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2017-15931 represents a critical integer overflow condition affecting radare2 version 2.0.1, specifically within the ELF binary analysis functionality. This flaw manifests in the store_versioninfo_gnu_verneed() function located in libr/bin/format/elf/elf.c, where improper handling of negative integers during memory allocation operations can lead to invalid memory access patterns. The vulnerability is particularly significant because it affects 32-bit systems, where integer limitations create a more pronounced risk of overflow conditions that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the improper validation of version information structures within ELF files, specifically the GNU version need section. When radare2 processes crafted ELF files containing malformed version information, the function attempts to allocate memory based on negative integer values derived from the corrupted data structures. This results in memory access violations that can potentially lead to application crashes or, in more sophisticated exploitation scenarios, arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-191 Integer Underflow or Wraparound, which is categorized under the broader class of integer overflow conditions that can result in memory corruption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application instability, as it can be leveraged by attackers to compromise the integrity of reverse engineering workflows that rely on radare2 for binary analysis. Security professionals and malware analysts who use radare2 to examine suspicious files may inadvertently trigger this vulnerability when processing malicious ELF binaries, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The exploitability is heightened on 32-bit systems due to their limited address space and the specific integer size constraints that make negative values more likely to cause memory allocation failures. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as it represents a code execution vector that can be triggered through the processing of malicious inputs in the analysis environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-15931 should prioritize immediate patching of radare2 installations to version 2.0.2 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for proper integer validation and memory allocation handling. System administrators should implement strict file validation policies for ELF binaries, particularly when processing untrusted inputs, and consider deploying automated scanning tools that can detect potentially malicious ELF structures before they are analyzed by radare2. Additionally, organizations should maintain updated threat intelligence feeds that monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability and ensure that security tools are configured to prevent unauthorized execution of potentially malicious code during reverse engineering activities. The fix implemented in subsequent versions addresses the root cause by introducing proper bounds checking and validation of integer values before memory allocation operations are performed, thereby preventing the negative integer values that previously led to invalid memory access patterns.