CVE-2019-10654 in LZO
Summary
by MITRE
The lzo1x_decompress function in liblzo2.so.2 in LZO 2.10, as used in Long Range Zip (aka lrzip) 0.631, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (invalid memory read and application crash) via a crafted archive, a different vulnerability than CVE-2017-8845.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/17/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-10654 represents a critical denial of service weakness within the LZO compression library version 2.10, specifically affecting the lzo1x_decompress function in the liblzo2.so.2 shared library. This flaw manifests when the vulnerable software processes maliciously crafted archive files through the Long Range Zip (lrzip) utility version 0.631, creating a scenario where remote attackers can trigger system instability. The issue is particularly concerning because it operates at the decompression layer of a widely-used compression utility, making it accessible to attackers who can manipulate archive content without requiring local system access. The vulnerability specifically targets the memory management operations within the decompression routine, causing invalid memory reads that ultimately result in application crashes and system disruption.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the lzo1x_decompress function, which fails to properly handle malformed or crafted data structures during decompression operations. When lrzip encounters a specially crafted archive file, the decompression process attempts to read from memory locations that are either uninitialized, freed, or otherwise invalid, leading to segmentation faults and application termination. This behavior aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities, and CWE-476, which addresses null pointer dereference conditions. The flaw operates at the intersection of memory safety and decompression algorithm robustness, where the compression library does not adequately protect against malformed input sequences that could cause memory access violations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for systems that rely on lrzip for archive management and data compression tasks, particularly in environments where external archive files are processed without proper validation. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially affect automated backup systems, file transfer operations, and any infrastructure that processes untrusted archive content. Attackers can exploit this weakness remotely by delivering malicious archive files to systems that utilize lrzip for decompression, without requiring authentication or privileged access. The vulnerability's classification as a denial of service weakness means that successful exploitation results in complete service unavailability, potentially affecting business continuity and system reliability. This type of vulnerability also represents a potential stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, as system administrators may be distracted by the immediate denial of service while the underlying system remains vulnerable to other exploitation vectors.
The recommended mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-10654 involve immediate software updates to the latest versions of both the LZO library and lrzip utility, which contain patched implementations of the decompression functions. Organizations should implement input validation procedures that verify archive integrity before processing, particularly for files received from external sources. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms or containerized environments for archive processing to limit the impact of potential exploitation. Network segmentation and access controls can further reduce the attack surface by limiting which systems can process potentially malicious archive files. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security assessments and dependency monitoring, as similar issues can emerge in other compression libraries and utilities that rely on similar decompression algorithms. According to ATT&CK framework category T1499, this vulnerability represents a denial of service attack technique that can be leveraged to disrupt system availability and compromise operational resilience. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious archive processing activities and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing decompression-based vulnerabilities.