CVE-2018-14742 in PBC
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in libpbc.a in cloudwu PBC through 2017-03-02. A SEGV can occur in set_field_one in bootstrap.c during a memcpy.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/27/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-14742 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the libpbc library, specifically in the cloudwu PBC implementation dating back to March 2017. This issue manifests as a segmentation fault during the execution of the set_field_one function located in the bootstrap.c file, where a memcpy operation fails to properly validate memory boundaries. The flaw occurs when the library attempts to copy data into a memory region that either lacks sufficient space or has been improperly allocated, creating a dangerous condition that can lead to system instability or potential exploitation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the domain of buffer overflows and memory safety issues, which are commonly categorized under CWE-121 for stack-based buffer overflow and CWE-122 for heap-based buffer overflow. The specific implementation flaw in the memcpy operation suggests that the library fails to properly validate the size parameters before attempting memory copying, allowing for potential overwriting of adjacent memory regions. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1070.004 for Indicator Removal on Host, as exploitation could enable attackers to manipulate memory contents and potentially execute arbitrary code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system crashes, as it can be leveraged by malicious actors to achieve privilege escalation or denial of service conditions. When the segmentation fault occurs during the set_field_one function execution, it can result in unpredictable program behavior, including potential data corruption, application crashes, or even complete system instability. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects a widely used library that handles cryptographic operations, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise systems that rely on PBC for cryptographic protocols.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-14742 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected libpbc library to the latest stable version that addresses the memory validation issue. Organizations should implement comprehensive memory safety checks and input validation mechanisms to prevent similar issues in custom implementations. Additionally, runtime protections such as address space layout randomization and stack canaries should be enabled to reduce the exploitability of such memory corruption vulnerabilities. Regular security audits of cryptographic libraries and maintaining up-to-date dependencies form essential components of defense-in-depth strategies against this class of vulnerabilities. The remediation process must also include thorough testing of patched systems to ensure that the fix does not introduce regressions in functionality while maintaining the integrity of cryptographic operations that depend on the library.