CVE-2018-12322 in radare2
Summary
by MITRE
There is a heap out of bounds read in radare2 2.6.0 in _6502_op() in libr/anal/p/anal_6502.c via a crafted iNES ROM binary file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/27/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2018-12322 represents a critical heap out of bounds read condition affecting radare2 version 2.6.0, specifically within the 6502 architecture analysis module. This issue manifests in the _6502_op() function located at libr/anal/p/anal_6502.c, where the software fails to properly validate input data when processing crafted iNES ROM binary files. The flaw occurs during the analysis of 6502 processor instructions, which are commonly found in vintage video game cartridges and embedded systems. When radare2 encounters a malformed iNES ROM file, the analysis engine attempts to read memory beyond the allocated heap boundaries, potentially leading to information disclosure, application crashes, or even remote code execution depending on the exploitation context.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 Out-of-Bounds Read classification, which is a fundamental memory safety issue that has been consistently identified as one of the most prevalent causes of system instability and security breaches in software applications. The issue is particularly concerning in the context of reverse engineering tools like radare2, which are extensively used by security researchers, malware analysts, and penetration testers for examining binary code. The 6502 processor architecture analysis component becomes a potential attack vector when processing untrusted input files, as the lack of proper bounds checking allows attackers to craft malicious ROM files that trigger the out of bounds memory access. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic buffer overread scenario where the software assumes a certain data structure format without validating the actual input, leading to unpredictable behavior when memory is accessed beyond legitimate boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application instability, as it can compromise the integrity of security analysis workflows that depend on radare2 for binary examination. Security professionals who rely on this tool for malware analysis, firmware reverse engineering, or embedded system examination may inadvertently expose themselves to exploitation when processing untrusted iNES ROM files. The vulnerability affects not only the tool's stability but also its reliability in providing accurate analysis results, as the out of bounds read can corrupt internal data structures or cause the analysis engine to produce incorrect instruction interpretations. This is particularly problematic in environments where automated analysis pipelines process large volumes of binary files, as a single malicious input could cause cascading failures across multiple analysis tasks and potentially lead to false positives in security assessments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-12322 should prioritize immediate patching of radare2 to version 2.6.1 or later, which includes proper bounds checking in the _6502_op() function. System administrators and security teams should implement strict input validation procedures when processing binary files through radare2, particularly when dealing with untrusted sources such as user-uploaded ROM files or third-party firmware images. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Binary and Files, where adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities to execute malicious code through crafted input files. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms around radare2 usage to contain potential exploitation attempts and establish robust monitoring for abnormal memory access patterns during analysis operations. Additionally, security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments of their reverse engineering toolchains and maintain updated threat intelligence regarding similar heap-based vulnerabilities in other binary analysis frameworks that may present comparable attack surfaces.