CVE-2018-12916 in PBC
Summary
by MITRE
In libpbc.a in PBC through 2017-03-02, there is a Segmentation fault in _pbcP_message_default in proto.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-12916 affects the PBC library version 2017-03-02 and earlier, specifically within the libpbc.a component. This issue manifests as a segmentation fault during execution of the _pbcP_message_default function located in the proto.c file. The PBC library serves as a protocol buffer compiler and runtime library that enables efficient serialization and deserialization of structured data across different programming languages. The segmentation fault represents a critical stability issue that can cause applications using this library to crash unexpectedly when processing certain input data.
The technical flaw stems from improper memory management or buffer handling within the message default processing function. When the _pbcP_message_default function encounters specific malformed or unexpected input data, it fails to properly validate input parameters or handle memory allocation, leading to a segmentation fault during execution. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption issues that can potentially be exploited for denial-of-service attacks or, in more sophisticated scenarios, arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability is classified as a buffer overflow or memory access violation that occurs during protocol buffer message processing.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes, as it can affect any system or service that relies on PBC for data serialization and communication. Applications using this library may experience unexpected termination when processing malformed input data, leading to service disruption and potential data loss. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in networked environments where applications might receive untrusted input from external sources, as attackers could craft malicious payloads designed to trigger this segmentation fault. This makes the vulnerability a significant concern for systems handling network communications, data processing pipelines, or any scenario where external input is processed through the affected library.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-12916 should focus on immediate library updates to versions released after March 2017, which contain the necessary patches to address the segmentation fault issue. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems utilizing the affected PBC library version and prioritize remediation efforts accordingly. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and sanitization measures can provide additional defense-in-depth protection against potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date cryptographic and serialization libraries, as outdated components often contain known vulnerabilities that can be easily exploited by threat actors. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring and alerting mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific memory corruption vulnerability.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and represents a classic example of memory safety issues that can lead to system instability. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability could be leveraged as part of a broader attack chain targeting system stability and availability, potentially serving as an initial compromise vector or contributing to denial-of-service scenarios. The PBC library's widespread use in various applications and systems makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous, as exploitation could impact multiple organizations and services simultaneously.