CVE-2023-40295 in Boron
Summary
by MITRE • 08/14/2023
libboron in Boron 2.0.8 has a heap-based buffer overflow in ur_strInitUtf8 at string.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2026
The vulnerability resides within the libboron library version 2.0.8 of the Boron project, specifically in the ur_strInitUtf8 function located in the string.c file. This heap-based buffer overflow represents a critical security flaw that can be exploited by malicious actors to compromise system integrity and potentially execute arbitrary code. The issue manifests when the library processes UTF-8 encoded strings without adequate bounds checking, allowing attackers to write beyond the allocated memory boundaries of heap-allocated buffers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the string processing routines. When ur_strInitUtf8 handles UTF-8 character sequences, it fails to properly verify that the destination buffer can accommodate the incoming data, particularly when dealing with multi-byte UTF-8 encodings that require more storage than anticipated. This flaw falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, though in this case the overflow occurs in heap memory rather than stack memory. The vulnerability is further classified as a memory safety issue that can lead to information disclosure, denial of service, or remote code execution depending on the exploitation context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across systems that utilize Boron 2.0.8 and its associated libboron library for processing UTF-8 encoded data. Attackers could leverage this flaw by crafting malicious input containing specially formatted UTF-8 sequences that trigger the buffer overflow during string initialization operations. The exploitation process would typically involve sending crafted data to applications using the affected library, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected process. Systems running on vulnerable versions face significant risk particularly in environments where user-supplied data is processed through the libboron library functions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention through version updates to Boron 2.0.9 or later releases that contain the patched implementation of ur_strInitUtf8. Organizations should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all systems utilizing affected versions of the library and implement patch management procedures to ensure timely remediation. Additionally, developers should review their application code to ensure proper bounds checking is implemented when processing UTF-8 data, and consider implementing input sanitization measures that validate string lengths before passing them to vulnerable library functions. The mitigation approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter execution, as exploitation may involve crafting inputs designed to trigger the memory corruption. System administrators should also implement network monitoring to detect anomalous data patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability.