CVE-2018-10244 in Suricata
Summary
by MITRE
Suricata version 4.0.4 incorrectly handles the parsing of an EtherNet/IP PDU. A malformed PDU can cause the parsing code to read beyond the allocated data because DecodeENIPPDU in app-layer-enip-commmon.c has an integer overflow during a length check.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10244 affects Suricata version 4.0.4 and represents a critical issue in the application layer protocol handling for EtherNet/IP communications. This flaw resides within the DecodeENIPPDU function located in the app-layer-enip-common.c source file, where the software fails to properly validate packet data length during the parsing process. The root cause of this vulnerability stems from an integer overflow condition that occurs during length validation checks, creating a scenario where the parsing code attempts to read memory beyond the allocated buffer boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic buffer over-read condition that can be exploited through carefully crafted EtherNet/IP Protocol Data Units. When Suricata receives a malformed EtherNet/IP PDU, the integer overflow during length validation causes the application to proceed with parsing operations that exceed the intended data boundaries. This condition falls under CWE-129, which specifically addresses insufficient validation of length of input buffers, and more broadly aligns with CWE-190, dealing with integer overflow or wraparound conditions. The vulnerability creates a path for potential arbitrary code execution or denial of service attacks since the overflow allows the parser to access memory regions that were not intended for reading.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to network security monitoring systems that rely on Suricata for EtherNet/IP traffic inspection. The attack surface extends to industrial control systems and manufacturing environments where EtherNet/IP is commonly deployed for communication between programmable logic controllers and other networked devices. When exploited, the vulnerability can cause Suricata to crash or behave unpredictably, potentially leading to complete service disruption for network monitoring capabilities. The impact is particularly concerning in environments where continuous network visibility is critical for operational technology security.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a malicious EtherNet/IP PDU that triggers the integer overflow condition during parsing. This attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which involves the use of remote services for command execution, and potentially T1498, related to network denial of service attacks. Organizations using Suricata in their network security infrastructure should prioritize immediate remediation through version updates to address this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation involves upgrading to Suricata version 4.1.0 or later, where the integer overflow issue has been resolved through proper input validation and buffer boundary checks. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing additional monitoring and alerting mechanisms to detect anomalous EtherNet/IP traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while maintaining strict access controls and network segmentation to limit potential attack impact.