CVE-2018-19416 in sysstat
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in sysstat 12.1.1. The remap_struct function in sa_common.c has an out-of-bounds read during a memmove call, as demonstrated by sadf.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-19416 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within the sysstat monitoring suite version 12.1.1. This issue manifests specifically in the remap_struct function located in the sa_common.c source file, where improper bounds checking during a memmove operation creates a condition that allows attackers to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the sadf utility, which is commonly used for analyzing system performance data collected by sysstat, making it a potential vector for privilege escalation or information disclosure attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the remap_struct function where the memmove operation processes data without proper boundary checks. When sadf processes certain malformed input data, the function fails to verify that the source and destination memory regions remain within valid bounds, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited to read sensitive data from adjacent memory locations. This type of flaw falls under CWE-129, which specifically addresses improper validation of array indices, and represents a classic example of an out-of-bounds read vulnerability that can be leveraged for data exposure or execution control flow manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory access violations as it can potentially enable attackers to extract confidential information from system memory, including potentially sensitive monitoring data, system credentials, or other privileged information. Attackers who can control the input to sadf utility may exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to system performance data that could reveal system configurations, user activities, or other operational details. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where sysstat data is collected from multiple systems and stored centrally, as it could provide attackers with a pathway to access aggregated monitoring information across multiple hosts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-19416 should prioritize immediate patching of sysstat to version 12.1.2 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to address the bounds checking issues in the remap_struct function. System administrators should also implement input validation controls for all data processed by sadf and related utilities, ensuring that all input data undergoes strict validation before being processed by the vulnerable code paths. Additionally, monitoring and logging should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns of data processing by sadf that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management practices in system monitoring tools, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through system monitoring tools and highlighting the need for robust input validation in utilities that process external data sources. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit who can execute sadf and modify system performance data collection processes, reducing the attack surface for this type of vulnerability.