CVE-2017-8846 in lrzip
Summary
by MITRE
The read_stream function in stream.c in liblrzip.so in lrzip 0.631 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (use-after-free and application crash) via a crafted archive.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/06/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8846 represents a critical use-after-free flaw in the lrzip compression utility, specifically within the liblrzip.so library version 0.631. This vulnerability exists in the read_stream function located in stream.c, which forms a core component of the library responsible for handling compressed archive data processing. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate the application's memory management through carefully crafted archive files, potentially leading to system instability and complete application failure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory handling during stream processing operations. When the read_stream function processes maliciously constructed archive data, it fails to properly validate or manage memory references, creating conditions where freed memory locations are accessed after being deallocated. This use-after-free condition manifests as a memory corruption issue that can trigger application crashes or, in more severe cases, allow for arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability specifically affects the liblrzip.so library, which is widely used in various applications and systems that rely on lrzip for compression and decompression operations, making the impact potentially widespread across different software ecosystems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to disrupt services that depend on lrzip functionality, potentially causing cascading failures in systems where compression operations are critical. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require local access to compromise affected systems, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks, where adversaries can disrupt services through crafted inputs that cause application instability. The vulnerability also relates to CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in memory management, highlighting the fundamental flaw in how the library handles memory allocation and deallocation sequences.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-8846 should prioritize immediate patching of affected lrzip installations to version 0.632 or later, which contains the necessary memory management fixes. System administrators should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious archive files, particularly in environments where users can upload or process untrusted data. Input validation measures should be strengthened to reject malformed archive files before they reach the vulnerable library functions. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual application crashes or memory errors that may indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for archive processing operations and regularly update their vulnerability management procedures to address similar memory corruption issues in other compression libraries. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management in security-critical software components and serves as a reminder of the potential impact that seemingly minor memory handling flaws can have on overall system security posture.