CVE-2019-10193 in Communications Operations Monitor
Summary
by MITRE
A stack-buffer overflow vulnerability was found in the Redis hyperloglog data structure versions 3.x before 3.2.13, 4.x before 4.0.14 and 5.x before 5.0.4. By corrupting a hyperloglog using the SETRANGE command, an attacker could cause Redis to perform controlled increments of up to 12 bytes past the end of a stack-allocated buffer.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2025
The CVE-2019-10193 vulnerability represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow affecting Redis hyperloglog data structures across multiple version lines including 3.x before 3.2.13, 4.x before 4.0.14, and 5.x before 5.0.4. This vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the implementation of the SETRANGE command when processing hyperloglog data structures. The flaw manifests when an attacker crafts malicious input that causes the Redis server to allocate a stack buffer insufficient for handling the requested operations, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited for arbitrary code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the hyperloglog data structure's internal handling of the SETRANGE command which operates on a stack-allocated buffer without adequate validation of input parameters. When an attacker provides crafted input that exceeds the buffer boundaries, the system performs controlled increments of up to 12 bytes past the end of the allocated stack space. This memory corruption pattern aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which occurs when a program writes beyond the bounds of a stack-allocated buffer. The vulnerability's exploitation potential is significant as it allows for controlled memory corruption that can be leveraged to overwrite adjacent stack variables, potentially leading to privilege escalation or remote code execution.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to Redis deployments that utilize hyperloglog data structures, particularly in environments where untrusted input might be processed. The attack vector requires an authenticated user or process with access to the Redis server, making it less severe than fully remote exploits but still dangerous in multi-tenant or shared hosting environments. The impact extends beyond simple memory corruption as it can potentially allow attackers to manipulate the execution flow of the Redis process, leading to complete system compromise. This vulnerability affects the core Redis server functionality and can be exploited through legitimate Redis protocol commands, making detection and prevention challenging.
Security practitioners should prioritize immediate patching of affected Redis versions to address this vulnerability, with the recommended remediation being the upgrade to Redis 3.2.13, 4.0.14, or 5.0.4 respectively. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to this vulnerability, while monitoring for suspicious SETRANGE operations that might indicate attempted exploitation. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: Python) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) highlights the potential for attackers to leverage this flaw as part of broader attack chains. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and bounds checking in Redis implementations, along with regular security audits of data structure handling, can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future versions.