CVE-2023-45842 in Buildroot
Summary
by MITRE • 12/05/2023
Multiple data integrity vulnerabilities exist in the package hash checking functionality of Buildroot 2023.08.1 and Buildroot dev commit 622698d7847. A specially crafted man-in-the-middle attack can lead to arbitrary command execution in the builder.This vulnerability is related to the `mxsldr` package.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/05/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-45842 represents a critical data integrity flaw within the Buildroot build system's package hash verification mechanisms. This issue affects both the stable release 2023.08.1 and the development version at commit 622698d7847, indicating a persistent weakness in the cryptographic verification processes that protect against malicious interference during software compilation. The vulnerability specifically targets the `mxsldr` package functionality, which serves as a critical component in embedded system builds where trust in downloaded artifacts is paramount for system security.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of package integrity checks during the build process. When a man-in-the-middle attacker intercepts network traffic between the build system and remote package repositories, they can manipulate the package contents while maintaining the appearance of valid cryptographic signatures. This flaw allows attackers to inject malicious code into the build environment, which then gets executed during the compilation process. The vulnerability operates at the level of package verification where hash values are checked against downloaded artifacts, creating a window of opportunity for attackers to bypass security controls designed to prevent unauthorized modifications.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to embedded system developers and organizations relying on Buildroot for their firmware development. The arbitrary command execution capability enables attackers to gain complete control over the build environment, potentially compromising the integrity of the entire software supply chain. This attack vector is particularly dangerous because it operates silently within the legitimate build infrastructure, making detection difficult and allowing persistent compromise of development environments. The impact extends beyond immediate code execution to include potential backdoor insertion, data exfiltration, and the ability to compromise subsequent builds that depend on the compromised environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-45842 require immediate attention through patching the affected Buildroot versions to implement proper hash validation mechanisms. Organizations should implement network-level controls such as certificate pinning and strict SSL/TLS verification to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-347, which addresses improper verification of cryptographic signatures, and corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1553.004 for subverting trust controls. Security teams must also consider implementing additional verification layers including multi-factor authentication for package repositories, regular integrity checks of build environments, and monitoring for unauthorized command execution. The fix should ensure that all package verification processes properly validate cryptographic signatures before allowing package installation and execution within the build environment.