CVE-2018-10685 in Long Range Zip
Summary
by MITRE
In Long Range Zip (aka lrzip) 0.631, there is a use-after-free in the lzma_decompress_buf function of stream.c, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10685 affects Long Range Zip (lrzip) version 0.631, a compression utility designed for handling large files with high compression ratios. This flaw manifests as a use-after-free condition within the lzma_decompress_buf function located in the stream.c source file, representing a critical memory safety issue that undermines the software's stability and security posture. The vulnerability specifically impacts the decompression functionality of lrzip, making it susceptible to exploitation during normal operation when processing compressed data streams.
The technical implementation of this use-after-free vulnerability occurs when the lzma_decompress_buf function fails to properly manage memory allocation and deallocation sequences during the decompression process. When maliciously crafted compressed data is processed, the function may attempt to access memory that has already been freed, leading to unpredictable behavior. This memory management flaw can be triggered through the manipulation of compressed file structures, particularly those utilizing lzma compression algorithms. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions, and represents a classic example of improper memory handling that can result in application instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as remote attackers can potentially leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code or cause more severe system disruptions. When an application crashes due to this memory corruption, it can result in complete service unavailability, particularly in environments where lrzip is used as a core component of data processing pipelines or automated systems. The unspecified other impacts mentioned in the vulnerability description suggest that the memory corruption could potentially be exploited for more sophisticated attacks, including privilege escalation or information disclosure, depending on the execution context and system configuration. This vulnerability affects systems that rely on lrzip for decompression tasks, particularly those processing untrusted data from external sources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-10685 should prioritize immediate patching of lrzip installations to version 0.632 or later, which contains the necessary memory management fixes. System administrators should implement strict input validation and sanitization for any compressed data processed through lrzip, particularly when handling files from untrusted sources. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of lrzip services to potentially malicious inputs. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual application crashes or memory allocation patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities, and organizations should consider implementing defensive measures such as address space layout randomization and stack canaries to mitigate potential exploitation vectors. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar memory safety issues within the broader software ecosystem that may present comparable risks to system integrity and availability.