CVE-2023-40997 in ric-plt-lib-rmr
Summary
by MITRE • 08/29/2023
Buffer Overflow vulnerability in O-RAN Software Community ric-plt-lib-rmr v.4.9.0 allows a remote attacker to cause a denial of service via a crafted packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2023
The CVE-2023-40997 vulnerability represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the O-RAN Software Community ric-plt-lib-rmr version 4.9.0 component. This vulnerability specifically affects the remote monitoring and reporting module that forms part of the O-RAN (Open RAN) ecosystem, which is designed to facilitate interoperable radio access network implementations across telecommunications infrastructure. The affected library serves as a foundational element for communication between various O-RAN components including the RAN Intelligent Controller and distributed units, making it a critical attack surface within modern wireless network architectures.
The technical exploitation of this buffer overflow occurs when the ric-plt-lib-rmr library processes incoming network packets without adequate bounds checking on the received data. When a remote attacker crafts a malicious packet containing oversized data structures or malformed payload content, the library fails to validate the input length before copying it into fixed-size buffers. This programming error creates a condition where the data exceeds the allocated memory space, causing memory corruption that can lead to unpredictable behavior including application crashes, memory exhaustion, or potentially arbitrary code execution depending on the specific memory layout and exploitation circumstances.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions as it compromises the stability and reliability of entire O-RAN deployments. Network operators relying on this software component for their radio access network infrastructure face significant risks including service interruptions, degraded network performance, and potential security breaches that could affect critical telecommunications services. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability from outside the network perimeter without requiring physical access or prior authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous for deployed network equipment.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the ATT&CK framework where it maps to techniques involving denial of service and privilege escalation through software exploitation. The CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) classification for this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and potentially CWE-787, representing out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities. Organizations implementing O-RAN solutions must prioritize immediate patching of affected systems, implement network segmentation to limit exposure, and deploy intrusion detection systems capable of identifying malformed packet patterns. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation and secure coding practices within telecommunications software development lifecycle processes, particularly for components handling network communications in critical infrastructure environments.