CVE-2018-17042 in dbf2txt
Summary
by MITRE
An issue has been found in dbf2txt through 2012-07-19. It is a infinite loop.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/23/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-17042 represents a critical denial of service flaw in the dbf2txt utility version 2012-07-19 and earlier. This issue manifests as an infinite loop condition that can be triggered through malformed input processing, effectively causing the application to consume excessive system resources and potentially crash. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the data conversion utility that processes dBASE database files and converts them to text format. When the utility encounters specific malformed or corrupted dbf file structures, it enters a continuous processing loop without proper termination conditions, rendering the application unresponsive and preventing legitimate operations from completing.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation and lacks proper loop termination mechanisms in the processing logic. The flaw occurs during the file parsing phase where the application fails to properly handle edge cases in the dbf file format specification. This type of vulnerability is classified as CWE-835, which specifically addresses the issue of loops with inadequate termination conditions. The infinite loop behavior can be exploited by an attacker who crafts malicious dbf files designed to trigger the problematic code path, causing the application to consume CPU resources indefinitely until manually terminated or the system becomes unresponsive. This represents a classic denial of service vulnerability that can be exploited remotely if the application processes untrusted input from external sources.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-17042 extends beyond simple application instability to potentially compromise entire system availability and performance. When exploited, the infinite loop causes resource exhaustion that can affect not only the targeted application but also impact system performance for other processes running on the same host. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in server environments where dbf2txt might be used as part of automated data processing workflows or integrated into larger applications. The vulnerability can be leveraged in various attack scenarios including resource exhaustion attacks, where attackers systematically submit malformed files to cause service degradation or complete system downtime. Additionally, the vulnerability may be exploited as part of broader attack chains where the denial of service serves as a precursor to more sophisticated attacks, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which covers network denial of service attacks through resource exhaustion.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-17042 should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The primary solution involves upgrading to a patched version of dbf2txt that implements proper input validation and loop termination mechanisms. System administrators should also implement input sanitization measures at network boundaries and consider implementing resource limits or timeouts for file processing operations. Additional protective measures include deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify unusual processing patterns indicative of infinite loop conditions, implementing proper file validation before processing untrusted inputs, and establishing monitoring mechanisms to detect resource exhaustion events. Organizations should also consider isolating the dbf2txt utility in sandboxed environments or containerized deployments to limit the potential impact of exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation and proper error handling in preventing denial of service conditions, aligning with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-160 and ISO/IEC 27001 security frameworks.