CVE-2017-15932 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_verdef() in libr/bin/format/elf/elf.c via crafted ELF files when parsing the ELF version on 32bit systems.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2017-15932 represents a critical integer overflow condition affecting radare2 version 2.0.1, specifically within the ELF binary parsing functionality. This issue manifests in the store_versioninfo_gnu_verdef() function located in libr/bin/format/elf/elf.c, where improper handling of negative integers during ELF version parsing leads to invalid memory access patterns. The vulnerability is particularly significant because it affects 32-bit system architectures, where integer overflow conditions can more readily result in memory corruption due to limited address space and signed integer handling characteristics.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation within the ELF parsing routine, where crafted malicious ELF files can trigger negative integer values that propagate through the parsing logic. When the function encounters these malformed inputs, the negative values are not properly sanitized or checked before being used as array indices or memory allocation parameters. This creates a scenario where the program attempts to access memory locations that are either invalid or unauthorized, potentially leading to memory corruption, application crashes, or in more severe cases, arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-191, which specifically addresses integer underflow conditions, and demonstrates how improper integer handling can lead to memory safety issues.
Operationally, this vulnerability poses significant risks to security analysts and reverse engineers who rely on radare2 for binary analysis, as it can be exploited through simple crafted ELF files. Attackers could potentially craft malicious ELF binaries that, when loaded into radare2, would trigger the integer overflow condition and cause the application to crash or behave unpredictably. The impact extends beyond mere application instability, as the memory corruption could potentially be leveraged to execute arbitrary code if the application does not properly handle the exception conditions. This vulnerability affects the integrity of the binary analysis process, potentially compromising security research workflows and analyst productivity. The 32-bit system limitation means that organizations running legacy systems or embedded environments using radare2 are particularly at risk.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-15932 should focus on immediate software updates to radare2 version 2.0.2 or later, where the integer overflow condition has been addressed through proper input validation and bounds checking. Additionally, organizations should implement defensive programming practices such as input sanitization, integer overflow detection, and memory access validation when processing external binary files. Security teams should also consider deploying network segmentation and file validation controls to prevent untrusted ELF files from being processed by radare2 environments. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper integer handling in security-critical applications and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through binary implants, highlighting the potential for exploitation in reverse engineering and security analysis contexts.