CVE-2023-42459 in Fast DDS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
Fast DDS is a C++ implementation of the DDS (Data Distribution Service) standard of the OMG (Object Management Group). In affected versions specific DATA submessages can be sent to a discovery locator which may trigger a free error. This can remotely crash any Fast-DDS process. The call to free() could potentially leave the pointer in the attackers control which could lead to a double free. This issue has been addressed in versions 2.12.0, 2.11.3, 2.10.3, and 2.6.7. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2025
Fast DDS represents a critical vulnerability in the form of a memory corruption flaw that affects the Data Distribution Service implementation within the Object Management Group standard. This vulnerability specifically targets the handling of DATA submessages during discovery operations, creating a condition where remote attackers can trigger memory management errors that result in process crashes. The flaw manifests when the system processes malformed DATA submessages sent to discovery locators, leading to improper memory deallocation through the free() function. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management practices within the DDS discovery mechanism, which is fundamental to how Fast DDS coordinates communication between distributed entities.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of memory management functions that are improperly validated during the processing of discovery messages. When a malicious DATA submessage is received and processed by the discovery locator, the system attempts to free memory that has already been deallocated or is otherwise in an inconsistent state. This creates a scenario where the free() function operates on memory that the attacker controls, potentially enabling a double free condition. The double free vulnerability represents a serious memory corruption issue that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions, as the attacker can manipulate the memory layout to achieve unauthorized operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-42459 extends beyond simple process termination to potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors that align with the attack pattern taxonomy. This vulnerability can be categorized under the attack technique of code execution through memory corruption, specifically targeting the memory management subsystem of the DDS implementation. The issue affects the core discovery functionality that enables Fast DDS processes to identify and communicate with other participants in a distributed system, making it a critical weakness in the communication infrastructure. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can trigger the condition from outside the local network without requiring local system access or authentication.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability involves upgrading to patched versions of Fast DDS that contain proper memory validation and handling mechanisms. The affected versions 2.12.0, 2.11.3, 2.10.3, and 2.6.7 incorporate fixes that address the improper free() function calls and implement more robust input validation for DATA submessages. Security practitioners should prioritize the upgrade of all Fast DDS installations to ensure protection against this memory corruption vulnerability. The lack of known workarounds emphasizes the critical nature of this vulnerability, as organizations cannot rely on temporary mitigations. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-415, which describes improper free conditions in memory management, and represents a classic example of how improper handling of dynamic memory allocation can create severe security implications in distributed systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management practices in real-time communication systems where reliability and security are paramount.