CVE-2017-2800 in wolfSSL
Summary
by MITRE
A specially crafted x509 certificate can cause a single out of bounds byte overwrite in wolfSSL through 3.10.2 resulting in potential certificate validation vulnerabilities, denial of service and possible remote code execution. In order to trigger this vulnerability, the attacker needs to supply a malicious x509 certificate to either a server or a client application using this library.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/16/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2800 represents a critical memory safety issue within the wolfSSL cryptographic library version 3.10.2 and earlier. This flaw manifests as a buffer overflow condition that occurs during the processing of specially crafted x509 certificates, specifically involving an out-of-bounds byte overwrite operation. The vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking during certificate parsing operations, creating a scenario where malicious input can corrupt adjacent memory regions. The affected library is widely deployed in embedded systems, IoT devices, and network applications that rely on secure communication protocols, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations operating in security-sensitive environments. The issue falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, though the specific implementation flaw results in a more nuanced memory corruption pattern that can manifest in multiple attack vectors.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to present a maliciously constructed x509 certificate to either a wolfSSL server or client application. When the library processes this crafted certificate, the insufficient input validation leads to a memory corruption event that overwrites a single byte beyond the intended buffer boundaries. This seemingly minor corruption can have severe consequences as it may alter critical control flow data structures or validation flags within the certificate processing routine. The memory layout of the affected application becomes compromised, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate the certificate validation logic, bypass security checks, or induce system instability. The vulnerability demonstrates how improper input handling in cryptographic libraries can create pathways for sophisticated attacks that leverage the very protocols designed to protect network communications.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2800 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to encompass potential remote code execution capabilities and certificate validation bypass scenarios. When exploited successfully, this vulnerability can allow attackers to manipulate certificate validation processes, potentially accepting invalid certificates or rejecting valid ones, thereby undermining the entire trust model of the secure communication channel. The denial of service aspect can be particularly damaging in mission-critical applications where availability is paramount, as the library may crash or become unresponsive when processing malicious certificates. Organizations relying on wolfSSL for secure communications face significant risk if this vulnerability remains unpatched, as attackers could leverage it to establish persistent access points or disrupt service availability. The attack surface is broad given that wolfSSL is used across various platforms and applications, including embedded devices, mobile applications, and enterprise network infrastructure components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2800 center on immediate patching of affected wolfSSL versions to 3.10.3 or later, which contain the necessary fixes for the buffer overflow condition. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems utilizing affected library versions and prioritize remediation efforts accordingly. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts through anomalous certificate processing patterns or unexpected application behavior. Additionally, implementing certificate pinning mechanisms and additional validation layers can provide defense-in-depth protection against exploitation attempts. Security teams should consider deploying intrusion detection systems capable of identifying malformed certificate traffic patterns that may indicate attempted exploitation. The vulnerability highlights the importance of rigorous input validation in cryptographic libraries and underscores the need for continuous security auditing of security-critical components. Organizations should also review their certificate management practices to ensure that only trusted certificates are processed and that proper certificate validation procedures are maintained. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 for execution through malicious code injection and T1566 for social engineering via malicious certificate delivery, emphasizing the multi-faceted nature of potential attack vectors.