CVE-2023-46442 in Soot
Summary
by MITRE • 05/24/2024
An infinite loop in the retrieveActiveBody function of Soot before v4.4.1 under Java 8 allows attackers to cause a Denial of Service (DoS).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-46442 represents a critical denial of service weakness within the Soot bytecode analysis framework, specifically affecting versions prior to v4.4.1. This issue manifests in the retrieveActiveBody function where an infinite loop occurs under Java 8 runtime environments, creating a condition that can be exploited by malicious actors to disrupt system operations. The Soot framework serves as a widely-used tool for Java bytecode analysis and transformation, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for security-conscious organizations that rely on static analysis for code security assessment.
The technical flaw resides in the retrieveActiveBody function implementation where improper loop termination conditions allow for infinite execution cycles when processing specific bytecode patterns. This condition typically arises when the function encounters certain control flow constructs or method invocations that trigger the loop without proper exit mechanisms. The vulnerability is specifically triggered under Java 8 environments due to differences in how bytecode is processed and interpreted compared to other Java versions, making it particularly relevant for legacy system environments that have not yet migrated to newer Java runtime versions. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-835, which addresses infinite loops in software implementations where loop termination conditions are improperly defined or validated.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system unresponsiveness, as it can be leveraged to create sustained denial of service conditions that may affect automated security analysis pipelines, continuous integration systems, and development environments that depend on Soot for code analysis. Attackers can craft malicious Java bytecode that when processed by Soot triggers this infinite loop, causing system resources to be consumed indefinitely until manual intervention occurs. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous in automated security testing environments where Soot is used extensively for vulnerability scanning, as it can cause complete system paralysis during security assessments and potentially allow attackers to disrupt security operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-46442 primarily involve upgrading to Soot version 4.4.1 or later where the infinite loop condition has been properly addressed through enhanced loop termination logic and improved input validation. Organizations should also implement additional runtime protections such as execution timeouts and resource monitoring to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers resource exhaustion attacks, and organizations should consider implementing process monitoring and automated alerting systems to detect anomalous resource consumption patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, defensive coding practices should be enforced to prevent similar issues in other components of the security analysis stack that may be susceptible to similar loop-related vulnerabilities.