CVE-2018-18310 in elfutils
Summary
by MITRE
An invalid memory address dereference was discovered in dwfl_segment_report_module.c in libdwfl in elfutils through v0.174. The vulnerability allows attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) with a crafted ELF file, as demonstrated by consider_notes.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-18310 represents a critical memory safety issue within the elfutils library ecosystem, specifically affecting the dwfl_segment_report_module.c component. This flaw exists in libdwfl, which serves as a crucial library for processing debug information in elf files, making it a fundamental component in various system administration and debugging tools. The vulnerability manifests as an invalid memory address dereference, a classic type of software bug that occurs when a program attempts to access memory locations that have not been properly allocated or are otherwise inaccessible. Such flaws are particularly dangerous in system-level libraries as they can lead to unpredictable behavior and system instability.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through crafted ELF files that trigger improper memory handling within the dwfl_segment_report_module.c file. When processing these maliciously constructed files, the library fails to validate memory access patterns properly, resulting in a segmentation fault or similar memory access violation. The vulnerability specifically impacts the consider_notes function within the elfutils processing pipeline, where the library attempts to report module information from segments without adequate bounds checking. This memory dereference flaw allows attackers to craft ELF files that, when processed by any application relying on libdwfl, will cause the target application to crash and terminate unexpectedly. The flaw is classified as a denial of service vulnerability since it prevents legitimate system operations from completing successfully.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-18310 extends beyond simple application crashes, as it affects any software that utilizes the elfutils library for processing or analyzing ELF binary files. This includes system debugging tools, crash analysis frameworks, security scanning utilities, and various development environments that depend on proper ELF file handling. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to disrupt system services, cause availability issues in debugging environments, or potentially escalate their attacks by targeting applications that process untrusted binary input. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that elf files are ubiquitous in unix-like operating systems, making the attack surface quite broad. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-476: NULL Pointer Dereference, which is a well-known weakness in software security that can lead to system instability and potential privilege escalation scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected systems and applications that rely on libdwfl. System administrators should prioritize updating their elfutils packages to versions that contain the fix for this memory dereference issue, typically found in elfutils versions 0.175 and later. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and sanitization measures can help reduce the risk of exploitation, particularly in environments where untrusted ELF files may be processed. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime protections such as address space layout randomization and stack canaries to make exploitation more difficult. The vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1059.007: Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell and T1499.004: Network Denial of Service, as attackers can leverage this flaw to disrupt system availability and potentially gain unauthorized access to system resources through service disruption. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar memory safety issues across the entire software stack, as such flaws often indicate broader patterns of insufficient input validation and memory management practices within complex software ecosystems.