CVE-2018-17427 in SIMDComp
Summary
by MITRE
SIMDComp before 0.1.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (heap-based buffer over-read and application crash) because it can read (and then discard) extra bytes.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/19/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-17427 affects the SIMDComp compression library version 0.1.0 and earlier, representing a critical heap-based buffer over-read condition that can be exploited remotely to cause denial of service. This flaw resides in the library's handling of compressed data streams where it reads beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, leading to unpredictable behavior and application instability. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and boundary checking mechanisms within the decompression routine, specifically when processing compressed data that contains malformed or unexpected byte sequences.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic buffer over-read scenario where the decompression algorithm attempts to read additional bytes beyond the expected data boundaries without proper bounds verification. When the library encounters compressed data that triggers this condition, it continues processing and discards the extra bytes it reads, but not before causing memory corruption that results in application crashes. This behavior aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities, and represents a significant weakness in the library's memory management and input sanitization practices. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through network-based attacks where remote adversaries send maliciously crafted compressed data streams to systems utilizing the affected library.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for systems that rely on SIMDComp for data compression, particularly in network services, web applications, and any software that processes compressed data from untrusted sources. Attackers can exploit this weakness to cause repeated application crashes, leading to service disruption and potential system instability. The remote exploitation capability means that adversaries do not need physical access to the target system, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in cloud environments, web servers, or any network-accessible service that handles compressed input data. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service as the heap corruption can potentially lead to more severe consequences depending on the execution environment and memory layout.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2018-17427 involves immediate upgrading to SIMDComp version 0.1.0 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the buffer over-read condition. Organizations should also implement input validation measures and consider deploying additional security controls such as network segmentation, intrusion detection systems, and regular security assessments to monitor for exploitation attempts. The fix typically involves implementing proper bounds checking mechanisms and ensuring that decompression routines verify data boundaries before reading compressed streams. This vulnerability highlights the importance of thorough input validation in cryptographic and compression libraries, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1070.004 for indicator removal and T1499.004 for network denial of service. System administrators should also consider implementing rate limiting and connection throttling mechanisms to reduce the effectiveness of potential exploitation attempts while the software upgrades are being deployed across affected systems.