CVE-2018-14741 in PBC
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in libpbc.a in cloudwu PBC through 2017-03-02. A SEGV can occur in pbc_pattern_pack in pattern.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/27/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-14741 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the libpbc.a library, specifically affecting the cloudwu PBC implementation through March 2, 2017. This issue manifests as a segmentation fault during the execution of the pbc_pattern_pack function located in the pattern.c source file, indicating a fundamental problem with memory management and input validation within the library's pattern processing capabilities. The vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking and improper handling of malformed input data that can cause the application to access invalid memory addresses, leading to unexpected program termination and potential system instability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it firmly within the category of memory safety issues, specifically aligning with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. The flaw occurs when the pbc_pattern_pack function processes pattern data without adequate validation of input parameters, allowing malicious or malformed data to trigger memory access violations. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited to cause denial of service attacks or potentially enable more sophisticated exploitation techniques if the application continues to execute after the initial crash. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that libpbc.a is commonly used in various applications and systems that rely on pattern matching and data processing functionalities.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems that depend on the affected library for pattern processing operations. When exploited, the segmentation fault can result in application crashes, service disruptions, and potential data loss if the application does not handle the error gracefully. The vulnerability affects not only the immediate application but also any system components that might be vulnerable to similar memory corruption issues when processing pattern data. Security analysts should note that this vulnerability can be classified under the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059, which involves the execution of malicious code through command and scripting interpreters, particularly when the flaw leads to arbitrary code execution in vulnerable applications.
The recommended mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-14741 include immediate deployment of patches provided by the library maintainers, which typically involve implementing proper bounds checking and input validation mechanisms within the pbc_pattern_pack function. Organizations should also implement robust monitoring and alerting systems to detect potential exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. Additionally, application developers should conduct thorough code reviews focusing on memory management practices and input validation, particularly in areas that handle pattern matching operations. The implementation of address space layout randomization and stack canaries can provide additional protection layers, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the software stack. System administrators should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit potential exploitation vectors and reduce the attack surface for vulnerable applications.