CVE-2018-11375 in radare2
Summary
by MITRE
The _inst__lds() function in radare2 2.5.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (heap-based out-of-bounds read and application crash) via a crafted binary file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/14/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-11375 resides within the radare2 reverse engineering framework version 2.5.0, specifically within the _inst__lds() function that handles instruction loading operations. This flaw represents a heap-based out-of-bounds read condition that can be exploited by remote attackers through the careful crafting of binary files. The issue manifests when radare2 processes malformed input data during the instruction parsing phase, leading to memory access violations that ultimately result in application instability and potential crashes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and bounds checking within the instruction loading subsystem. When the _inst__lds() function encounters specially crafted binary content, it fails to properly validate array indices or buffer boundaries before accessing heap-allocated memory regions. This deficiency allows attackers to manipulate memory access patterns that exceed allocated buffer limits, resulting in out-of-bounds memory reads that trigger segmentation faults or undefined behavior within the application. The vulnerability specifically targets heap-based memory operations where the function attempts to read data beyond the intended memory boundaries, creating a condition that can be reliably exploited for denial of service attacks.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to security professionals and analysts who rely on radare2 for malware analysis, binary reverse engineering, and security research activities. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can potentially compromise systems through maliciously crafted files without requiring local access or user interaction. The denial of service impact can disrupt critical analysis workflows, particularly in environments where automated binary analysis tools depend on radare2 functionality. Security teams face the challenge of maintaining system availability while dealing with the potential for unexpected application crashes that could interrupt ongoing security operations or forensic investigations.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions in software systems, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for application execution through command-line interfaces. Organizations using radare2 in production environments should prioritize immediate patching of affected versions, as the vulnerability can be leveraged for persistent disruption of security analysis capabilities. Mitigation strategies include implementing strict input validation controls, deploying application sandboxing measures, and establishing monitoring protocols to detect abnormal application behavior. Additionally, security teams should consider temporary workarounds such as disabling specific instruction loading functions or implementing network-level filtering to prevent exploitation attempts. The incident underscores the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security tools and implementing robust code review processes to identify and remediate memory safety vulnerabilities in security software frameworks.