CVE-2021-45387 in tcpreplay
Summary
by MITRE • 02/11/2022
tcpreplay 4.3.4 has a Reachable Assertion in add_tree_ipv4() at tree.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/17/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-45387 affects tcpreplay version 4.3.4 and involves a reachable assertion within the add_tree_ipv4() function located in the tree.c source file. This issue represents a critical flaw in the network packet replay tool commonly used for testing network infrastructure and security systems. The presence of a reachable assertion indicates that an attacker can potentially trigger a condition that causes the application to terminate unexpectedly, leading to a denial of service scenario. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and error handling within the IPv4 tree data structure management functionality that tcpreplay employs when processing network packets.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs within the add_tree_ipv4() function where the software fails to properly validate IPv4 address inputs before attempting to insert them into an internal data structure. When malformed or unexpected IPv4 addresses are processed, the assertion condition becomes true and triggers program termination. This assertion failure represents a classic example of inadequate error handling that violates security best practices and can be exploited by malicious actors to disrupt network testing operations. The vulnerability specifically targets the tree data structure implementation that tcpreplay uses to efficiently manage and process large volumes of network packets during replay operations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to network security testing environments where tcpreplay is extensively utilized. Security professionals and network administrators who rely on this tool for penetration testing, network performance evaluation, and security validation may find their testing operations interrupted by the assertion failure. The denial of service condition can occur during critical testing phases, potentially compromising security assessments and network validation procedures. Additionally, the vulnerability could be exploited in environments where tcpreplay is used in automated testing workflows, leading to complete disruption of network security validation processes and potential delays in identifying other security vulnerabilities.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-617, which addresses reachable assertions, and represents a specific instance of insecure programming practices that can lead to denial of service conditions. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could be leveraged as part of a broader attack chain where an adversary first identifies the vulnerable network testing tool and then exploits it to disrupt security operations. The flaw also relates to techniques under the T1499 category, specifically for network denial of service attacks, where the attacker can cause legitimate services to become unavailable through manipulation of the application's internal state. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of their overall security posture assessment when using network testing tools in production environments. Mitigation strategies include upgrading to patched versions of tcpreplay, implementing proper input validation measures, and establishing monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts.