CVE-2018-5378 in BGP Daemon
Summary
by MITRE
The Quagga BGP daemon (bgpd) prior to version 1.2.3 does not properly bounds check the data sent with a NOTIFY to a peer, if an attribute length is invalid. Arbitrary data from the bgpd process may be sent over the network to a peer and/or bgpd may crash.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/21/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5378 affects the Quagga BGP daemon implementation where insufficient bounds checking occurs during processing of NOTIFY messages from BGP peers. This flaw exists in versions prior to 1.2.3 and represents a critical security weakness in the Border Gateway Protocol implementation that governs internet routing. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the bgpd process receives a NOTIFY message containing invalid attribute length data, creating a condition where memory boundaries are not properly validated before data processing occurs.
The technical flaw stems from improper input validation within the bgpd component's message parsing logic. When processing incoming NOTIFY messages, the daemon fails to adequately verify the length parameters associated with BGP attributes before attempting to read or transmit data. This missing bounds checking creates a potential for buffer overflows or memory corruption scenarios that can be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability allows for arbitrary data to be transmitted over the network from the bgpd process to connected peers, potentially exposing sensitive routing information or system internals. Additionally, the flaw can cause the bgpd process to crash, resulting in denial of service conditions that disrupt BGP routing operations and potentially affect internet connectivity.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass potential information disclosure and system stability concerns. Network administrators managing BGP implementations using vulnerable Quagga versions face significant risks as attackers could exploit this weakness to gain insights into routing configurations or cause deliberate service interruptions. The arbitrary data transmission capability presents a vector for information leakage that could reveal internal network topology details, routing policies, or other sensitive operational information. The crash potential creates a reliable denial of service attack surface that could be leveraged to disrupt critical internet routing functions, particularly in environments where BGP stability is paramount for network operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-5378 primarily focus on upgrading to Quagga version 1.2.3 or later, which includes proper bounds checking implementations for BGP attribute length validation. Network administrators should also implement additional monitoring and intrusion detection measures to detect unusual NOTIFY message patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses insufficient bounds checking, and falls under ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol tunneling, as the flaw enables data transmission that could be used for malicious purposes. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable BGP implementations and establish regular patch management processes to maintain security posture against similar vulnerabilities in routing protocols.