CVE-2017-9779 in Compiler
Summary
by MITRE
OCaml compiler allows attackers to have unspecified impact via unknown vectors, a similar issue to CVE-2017-9772 "but with much less impact."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/17/2019
The CVE-2017-9779 vulnerability affects the OCaml compiler, a functional programming language compiler that generates efficient machine code from high-level source code. This vulnerability represents a security flaw within the compiler's processing mechanisms that could potentially allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or manipulate program behavior through unspecified attack vectors. The vulnerability was identified as being related to but less severe than CVE-2017-9772, indicating a similar class of issues within the compiler's code generation or parsing logic.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the OCaml compiler's handling of certain input patterns or code constructs that may lead to unexpected behavior during compilation or execution. While the exact vector remains unspecified, such vulnerabilities typically arise from insufficient input validation, buffer overflows, or improper memory management within the compiler's internal processing modules. The vulnerability's classification as having "unspecified impact" suggests that the potential consequences could range from denial of service to arbitrary code execution depending on how the vulnerability is exploited. This type of issue falls under the broader category of compiler-based security flaws that can affect the integrity of compiled software and potentially compromise the entire execution environment.
From an operational perspective, the impact of CVE-2017-9779 could be significant for organizations relying on OCaml applications, particularly in environments where code compilation occurs on untrusted inputs or where the compiler is used in automated build systems. The vulnerability could enable attackers to craft malicious source code that, when compiled, produces unexpected behavior in the resulting binary. This could lead to privilege escalation, information disclosure, or system compromise, especially when the compiler is used in web applications or systems that process user-provided code. The vulnerability's relationship to CVE-2017-9772 suggests that the OCaml compiler development team may have identified multiple related issues within their code generation pipeline that require comprehensive review and remediation.
Security practitioners should approach this vulnerability with caution, as the unspecified nature of the attack vectors requires thorough analysis of the compiler's behavior under various conditions. The vulnerability aligns with CWE categories related to compiler security flaws and code injection attacks, potentially mapping to CWE-78 and CWE-119 depending on the specific exploitation method. Organizations using OCaml should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched compiler versions, implementing strict input validation for any code compilation processes, and monitoring for suspicious compilation activities. The ATT&CK framework would classify this vulnerability under T1059.007 for compiler-based execution techniques and potentially T1134 for privilege escalation if the vulnerability allows for elevated system access. Regular security assessments of the compiler environment and implementation of sandboxed compilation processes can help reduce the risk exposure associated with this vulnerability.