CVE-2018-5380 in BGP Daemon
Summary
by MITRE
The Quagga BGP daemon (bgpd) prior to version 1.2.3 can overrun internal BGP code-to-string conversion tables used for debug by 1 pointer value, based on input.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/21/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5380 affects the Quagga Border Gateway Protocol daemon (bgpd) version 1.2.2 and earlier, representing a critical buffer overflow condition that arises during internal code-to-string conversion operations within the BGP debugging functionality. This flaw occurs when the bgpd process handles specific input data that triggers an off-by-one error in memory management, allowing an attacker to potentially overwrite adjacent memory locations with a single byte beyond the intended buffer boundaries. The vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking during string conversion operations that occur when debug information is generated for BGP protocol messages, particularly affecting the internal representation of BGP attributes and path information.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting malicious BGP messages that, when processed by the vulnerable bgpd daemon, cause the internal conversion tables to exceed their allocated memory space by exactly one pointer-sized value. This memory corruption can lead to unpredictable behavior including denial of service through daemon crashes, potential arbitrary code execution, or information disclosure depending on the specific memory layout and the attacker's ability to control the overflowed data. The issue is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, which aligns with the memory corruption patterns typically associated with such vulnerabilities in network protocol daemons. The vulnerability exists in the bgpd process which is responsible for maintaining BGP sessions and processing routing updates, making it a critical component in network infrastructure security.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-5380 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the entire routing infrastructure managed by affected Quagga implementations. Network operators utilizing vulnerable bgpd daemons face risks including unauthorized route injection, BGP session hijacking, and potential compromise of the routing table integrity. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where BGP debugging is enabled in production systems, as this increases the likelihood of triggering the overflow condition through normal network traffic. Attackers could leverage this flaw to perform persistent attacks against network infrastructure, potentially leading to traffic redirection, network disruption, or even complete routing table compromise. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and control through network protocol manipulation and T1496 for resource hijacking via denial of service attacks against critical network components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-5380 primarily involve upgrading to Quagga version 1.2.3 or later, which includes fixed code that properly bounds-checks the internal conversion tables during debug operations. Network administrators should also disable BGP debugging features in production environments where possible, as this reduces the attack surface for exploitation. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and monitoring for unusual BGP traffic patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all network infrastructure running affected Quagga versions and implement proper access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious BGP updates. The fix addresses the underlying buffer overflow by introducing proper bounds checking mechanisms and ensuring that all internal string conversion operations respect allocated buffer boundaries, thereby preventing the one-byte overflow condition that enabled the memory corruption.