CVE-2020-24133 in radare2-extras
Summary
by MITRE • 07/15/2021
A heap buffer overflow vulnerability in the r_asm_swf_disass function of Radare2-extras before commit e74a93c allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or carry out denial of service (DOS) attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/18/2021
The heap buffer overflow vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-24133 resides within the r_asm_swf_disass function of Radare2-extras, a critical component in the reverse engineering and binary analysis ecosystem. This vulnerability represents a serious security flaw that affects versions of the software prior to commit e74a93c, exposing systems to potential exploitation by malicious actors. The issue manifests in the context of software analysis tools where improper memory handling can lead to system compromise, making it particularly concerning for security researchers and analysts who rely on these tools for their work.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate bounds checking within the SWF (Shockwave Flash) disassembly functionality of Radare2-extras. When processing maliciously crafted SWF files, the r_asm_swf_disass function fails to properly validate input data lengths against allocated heap memory buffers. This oversight creates a condition where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system crashes. The vulnerability operates at the heap memory level, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited to manipulate program execution flow or cause denial of service conditions that disrupt legitimate analysis operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation scenarios, affecting the reliability and security posture of systems that utilize Radare2-extras for binary analysis. Security professionals and researchers using this tool for malware analysis, vulnerability research, or software reverse engineering face potential compromise when processing untrusted SWF content. The vulnerability can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code on systems running affected versions, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive analysis environments or disrupt ongoing research activities. Additionally, the denial of service aspect means that legitimate analysis operations could be interrupted, causing productivity losses and potential data integrity issues in research workflows.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-24133 should prioritize immediate software updates to versions that include commit e74a93c or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the heap buffer overflow condition. Organizations should implement strict input validation procedures when processing SWF files through Radare2-extras, including file size limits and content sanitization. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of systems running vulnerable versions of the software. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts through unusual memory access patterns or system behavior anomalies. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and represents a potential ATT&CK technique under T1059 for execution and T1490 for denial of service, making it a significant concern for both defensive and offensive security operations.