CVE-2017-8364 in rzip
Summary
by MITRE
The read_buf function in stream.c in rzip 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 archive.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8364 resides within the rzip 2.1 compression utility, specifically in the read_buf function located in the stream.c source file. This flaw represents a heap-based buffer overflow that occurs when processing specially crafted archive files, demonstrating a critical weakness in the software's input validation and memory management mechanisms. The vulnerability manifests during the decompression process when the application attempts to read data into a buffer without proper bounds checking, creating an exploitable condition that can be triggered remotely.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate memory allocation and boundary verification within the stream.c module. When rzip processes a malformed archive, the read_buf function fails to properly validate the size of incoming data before attempting to copy it into allocated memory buffers. This deficiency allows attackers to craft archive files containing oversized data sequences that exceed the allocated buffer space, resulting in memory corruption. The heap-based nature of the overflow means that the corruption affects the program's heap memory structure, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or complete application termination, depending on the specific memory layout and exploitation circumstances.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems that rely on rzip for data compression and decompression tasks. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to execute denial of service attacks against services or applications that utilize rzip functionality, causing legitimate users to lose access to compressed data or forcing system administrators to restart affected services. The potential for unspecified other impacts suggests that under certain conditions, this vulnerability could enable more sophisticated attacks beyond simple service disruption, potentially allowing privilege escalation or information disclosure depending on the execution environment and memory corruption patterns.
The vulnerability maps to CWE-121 Heap-based Buffer Overflow, which is categorized under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as a fundamental memory safety issue affecting heap memory management. From the MITRE ATT&CK framework perspective, this represents a Denial of Service technique that can be executed remotely through crafted input manipulation, falling under the T1499.004 sub-technique for Network Denial of Service. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it requires no local privileges and can be exploited over network connections where rzip is deployed, making it a significant threat vector for organizations relying on this compression utility.
Effective mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-8364 include immediate patching of affected rzip installations to version 2.1.1 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the buffer overflow condition. Organizations should implement input validation measures that restrict the size and format of archive files processed by rzip applications, including implementing file size limits and content filtering. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of rzip services to untrusted networks. Additionally, regular security assessments of compression utilities and automated vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar memory safety issues in other software components. System monitoring should be configured to detect unusual resource consumption patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, and incident response procedures should be established to handle potential exploitation events.