CVE-2022-1341 in bwm-ng
Summary
by MITRE • 04/18/2022
An issue was discovered in in bwm-ng v0.6.2. An arbitrary null write exists in get_cmdln_options() function in src/options.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-1341 resides within the bwm-ng network monitoring tool version 0.6.2, specifically within the get_cmdln_options() function located in the src/options.c source file. This issue represents a critical memory corruption flaw that arises from improper input validation during command line argument processing. The null write condition occurs when the application fails to properly handle or sanitize user-provided command line parameters, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to manipulate memory contents through crafted input sequences. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of buffer manipulation flaws and can potentially lead to arbitrary code execution or system instability when exploited.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from a lack of proper bounds checking and input sanitization within the command line option parsing logic. When bwm-ng processes command line arguments, the get_cmdln_options() function does not adequately validate the length or content of provided parameters before writing them to memory locations. This allows an attacker to supply specially crafted arguments that result in writing null bytes to memory addresses that should remain untouched, potentially corrupting critical data structures or pointers. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write, which specifically addresses situations where an application writes data past the boundaries of a fixed-length buffer. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that bwm-ng typically runs with elevated privileges during network monitoring operations, increasing the potential attack surface and exploitation success rate.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-1341 extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it represents a potential pathway for privilege escalation and system compromise. Network monitoring tools like bwm-ng are often deployed in server environments where they may run with root or administrator privileges to access network interface statistics and system resources. An attacker who can successfully exploit this null write condition could potentially manipulate the application's execution flow, leading to unauthorized code execution or complete system compromise. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where bwm-ng is used for network monitoring and security auditing, as it could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to network monitoring capabilities or manipulate network statistics. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1059: Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068: Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, highlighting the potential for both command execution and privilege elevation through such memory corruption flaws.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-1341 should focus on immediate patching of the bwm-ng application to version 0.6.3 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the command line option parsing logic. System administrators should implement strict input validation measures and avoid running bwm-ng with elevated privileges when possible, reducing the potential impact of successful exploitation. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit the attack surface, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual command line argument patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in security-critical applications, particularly those handling user-provided data in network monitoring and system administration contexts. Organizations should also conduct thorough code reviews of similar applications to identify and remediate potential buffer overflow and memory corruption vulnerabilities that could present similar attack vectors.