CVE-2017-16026 in Request
Summary
by MITRE
Request is an http client. If a request is made using ```multipart```, and the body type is a ```number```, then the specified number of non-zero memory is passed in the body. This affects Request >=2.2.6 <2.47.0 || >2.51.0 <=2.67.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2017-16026 resides within the request http client library, specifically impacting versions between 2.2.6 and 2.47.0, as well as versions greater than 2.51.0 up to and including 2.67.0. This security flaw manifests when processing multipart requests where the body parameter is explicitly defined as a numeric value. The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of data types within the multipart body construction process, creating a potential memory manipulation scenario that could be exploited by malicious actors. The issue directly relates to CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of array index values, and more specifically CWE-787, concerning out-of-bounds write operations, as the library incorrectly interprets numeric values as memory allocation parameters.
When a request is constructed using multipart encoding with a numeric body type, the library's internal parsing mechanism treats this number as a directive for memory allocation rather than as a data value to be transmitted. This misinterpretation causes the application to allocate and write memory based on the numeric input, potentially leading to buffer overflows or memory corruption scenarios. The vulnerability operates at the boundary between user-supplied data and system memory management, creating an attack surface where an attacker could manipulate the numeric value to control memory allocation behavior. This type of flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which involves command and scripting interpreter usage, as the vulnerability could enable arbitrary memory manipulation that might lead to code execution or system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, potentially allowing for denial of service conditions or more severe exploitation scenarios depending on the application environment. Applications utilizing affected versions of the request library in multipart request handling scenarios become vulnerable to memory-based attacks, particularly when processing untrusted input. The vulnerability's scope is significant as it affects a widely used http client library, meaning numerous applications and systems could be impacted if they rely on this library for handling multipart requests. Organizations should prioritize updating their dependencies to versions that have addressed this vulnerability, as the memory manipulation aspect could potentially be chained with other exploits to achieve more sophisticated attack objectives. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and type handling in network libraries, particularly when dealing with multipart data processing where different data types may require distinct handling approaches.