CVE-2017-2780 in MatrixSSL
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable heap buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the X509 certificate parsing functionality of InsideSecure MatrixSSL 3.8.7b. A specially crafted x509 certificate can cause a buffer overflow on the heap resulting in remote code execution. To trigger this vulnerability, a specially crafted x509 certificate must be presented to the vulnerable client or server application when initiating secure connection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2780 represents a critical heap buffer overflow flaw within the MatrixSSL 3.8.7b implementation of X509 certificate parsing functionality. This issue resides in the cryptographic library's handling of certificate data structures, specifically when processing X509 certificates during SSL/TLS handshake operations. The vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking during the parsing of certificate fields, particularly within the certificate validation and processing routines that handle certificate extensions and attribute parsing. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious X509 certificates that contain oversized or malformed data fields designed to overflow heap allocated buffers. The vulnerability affects both client and server implementations of the MatrixSSL library, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered during any secure connection establishment process where certificate validation occurs.
The technical exploitation of this heap buffer overflow occurs when the vulnerable MatrixSSL implementation processes a specially crafted certificate that contains maliciously constructed data within certificate attributes or extensions. During the certificate parsing phase, the library allocates heap memory for certificate components without proper validation of input size constraints, allowing an attacker to overflow adjacent heap memory regions. This overflow can overwrite critical memory structures including function pointers, return addresses, or other control data that governs program execution flow. The vulnerability's remote exploitability is enabled through the SSL/TLS handshake process where certificate exchange is mandatory, allowing attackers to present malicious certificates to target systems without requiring local access or prior authentication. The heap corruption typically manifests as memory overwrite conditions that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected process, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2780 extends across numerous security-sensitive applications that utilize the MatrixSSL library for secure communications. Systems affected include web servers, email servers, database servers, and network appliances that implement SSL/TLS encryption using InsideSecure's MatrixSSL 3.8.7b. The vulnerability's exploitation can result in unauthorized access, data exfiltration, service disruption, or complete system compromise depending on the target application's privilege level. Network infrastructure devices such as firewalls, load balancers, and VPN concentrators are particularly at risk since they frequently process certificate validation during connection establishment. The attack vector is especially concerning in environments where certificate validation occurs automatically without manual intervention, as automated systems can be compromised simply by establishing secure connections with maliciously crafted certificates. Organizations using vulnerable implementations may experience unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of critical services, and potential lateral movement within network environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2780 require immediate implementation of software updates from InsideSecure, as the vendor has released patched versions addressing the heap buffer overflow conditions. Organizations should prioritize patching all systems running MatrixSSL 3.8.7b or earlier versions, particularly those handling SSL/TLS connections with external parties. Network administrators should implement certificate pinning mechanisms where possible to reduce reliance on certificate validation and prevent exploitation of this vulnerability. Additional defensive measures include deploying intrusion detection systems capable of identifying suspicious certificate patterns and monitoring for anomalous SSL/TLS handshake behaviors. System hardening practices should focus on memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and data execution prevention features to complicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 heap-based buffer overflow classification and maps to attack techniques in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1059 for command and control execution and T1566 for credential access through social engineering. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems utilizing the affected MatrixSSL versions and implement network segmentation to limit potential exploitation impact.