CVE-2017-6194 in radare2
Summary
by MITRE
The relocs function in libr/bin/p/bin_bflt.c in radare2 1.2.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (heap-based buffer overflow and application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted binary file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6194 resides within the libr/bin/p/bin_bflt.c component of radare2 version 1.2.1, representing a critical heap-based buffer overflow that can be exploited remotely to trigger denial of service conditions or potentially more severe impacts. This flaw specifically affects the relocs function which processes binary files in the BFLT (Bare Flat) format, a simple binary format commonly used in embedded systems and kernel modules. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and bounds checking when parsing crafted binary payloads, allowing attackers to manipulate memory allocation patterns and overwrite adjacent heap regions. The BFLT format parsing functionality within radare2's binary analysis framework becomes compromised when encountering malformed input, creating opportunities for heap corruption that can lead to application crashes or unpredictable behavior. This represents a classic heap overflow vulnerability where the attacker can control the size and content of memory operations, potentially enabling arbitrary code execution under certain conditions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates poor memory management practices and inadequate buffer size validation within the binary parsing logic. When the relocs function processes a specially crafted BFLT file, it fails to properly validate the length of relocation entries or the overall structure of the binary, leading to a situation where heap allocations are performed based on attacker-controlled values. This flaw falls under CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for application execution through binary parsing vulnerabilities. The exploitation requires an attacker to craft a malicious binary file that, when processed by radare2, triggers the vulnerable code path. The heap corruption occurs during the relocation processing phase where the application allocates memory without proper bounds checking, making it susceptible to controlled overflows that can overwrite critical heap metadata or adjacent memory regions. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service as the heap corruption can potentially be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks depending on the execution environment and memory layout.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-6194 is significant for security professionals and system administrators who rely on radare2 for binary analysis and reverse engineering tasks. Remote exploitation capabilities mean that adversaries can compromise systems simply by convincing users to analyze malicious files through radare2, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where binary analysis tools are frequently used. The vulnerability affects systems where radare2 is deployed for security research, malware analysis, or forensic investigations, potentially allowing attackers to disrupt legitimate analysis activities or gain unauthorized access to systems. Organizations that depend on radare2 for vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, or malware analysis operations face increased risk as this flaw can be triggered through automated analysis workflows. The vulnerability's remote exploitability makes it particularly concerning for security tool vendors and researchers who may unknowingly process compromised binaries during their analysis activities. Additionally, the potential for unspecified other impacts suggests that under certain conditions, this vulnerability might enable privilege escalation or information disclosure, further amplifying its security implications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6194 involve immediate patching of radare2 installations to version 1.2.2 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the heap overflow vulnerability. System administrators should also implement input validation measures that prevent processing of untrusted binary files through radare2, particularly in automated analysis environments. The recommended approach includes disabling automatic binary analysis for unknown or untrusted files, implementing sandboxed analysis environments, and using network segmentation to limit exposure. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts through threat intelligence feeds and network traffic analysis, as the vulnerability may be exploited through social engineering campaigns targeting security professionals. Organizations should also consider implementing additional runtime protections such as heap metadata protection, stack canaries, and address space layout randomization to reduce the effectiveness of potential exploitation attempts. The fix implemented in subsequent versions addresses the core buffer overflow issue by adding proper bounds checking and input validation to the relocs function, ensuring that heap allocations are performed safely regardless of input values. Regular security updates and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to maintain protection against similar issues in other components of the radare2 framework and related security tools.