CVE-2018-12584 in ReSIProcate
Summary
by MITRE
The ConnectionBase::preparseNewBytes function in resip/stack/ConnectionBase.cxx in reSIProcate through 1.10.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (buffer overflow) or possibly execute arbitrary code when TLS communication is enabled.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-12584 resides within the reSIProcate library, a widely used open-source SIP stack implementation that serves as the foundation for many VoIP and real-time communication systems. This flaw specifically affects versions through 1.10.2 and manifests in the ConnectionBase::preparseNewBytes function located in resip/stack/ConnectionBase.cxx. The issue becomes particularly critical when TLS communication is enabled, as this represents a common security configuration for protecting SIP signaling traffic in enterprise and service provider environments. The vulnerability impacts the core networking functionality of applications built on reSIProcate, potentially affecting telephony systems, unified communications platforms, and any software relying on SIP-based protocols for voice and video communication.
The technical flaw represents a classic buffer overflow condition that occurs during the preprocessing of new bytes in TLS connections. When maliciously crafted data is received through TLS communication channels, the preparseNewBytes function fails to properly validate input lengths against buffer boundaries, leading to memory corruption. This buffer overflow can be exploited to either cause a denial of service through application crashes or potentially achieve arbitrary code execution on the affected system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the protocol parsing layer, meaning that an attacker could exploit it through normal SIP communication flows without requiring special privileges or direct system access. The flaw stems from inadequate bounds checking during TLS data processing, where the function does not properly account for the maximum expected data size when handling incoming encrypted communication streams.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the entire communication infrastructure relying on affected systems. Organizations using reSIProcate-based applications in production environments face significant risk, as the vulnerability could be exploited by remote attackers to crash critical communication services, leading to business disruption and potential financial losses. The nature of the flaw means that any system running reSIProcate with TLS enabled and accepting external SIP connections could be vulnerable, making it particularly concerning for service providers and enterprise communication platforms. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security model of SIP implementations, as it could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to systems or cause persistent service outages that would be difficult to detect and remediate.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-12584 primarily involve immediate patching of affected reSIProcate installations to versions that address the buffer overflow condition. Organizations should prioritize updating their systems to the latest stable releases of reSIProcate, which contain the necessary code modifications to properly validate input lengths during TLS data processing. Additionally, network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of vulnerable systems to untrusted networks, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in SIP traffic that might indicate exploitation attempts, while also implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify malformed TLS handshakes or unexpected data patterns. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a potential ATT&CK technique involving remote code execution through protocol parsing vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing application-level firewalls and SIP-specific security controls to provide additional defense-in-depth measures against similar exploitation vectors.