CVE-2023-50570 in IPAddress
Summary
by MITRE • 12/29/2023
** DISPUTED ** An issue in the component IPAddressBitsDivision of IPAddress v5.1.0 leads to an infinite loop. This is disputed because an infinite loop occurs only for cases in which the developer supplies invalid arguments. The product is not intended to always halt for contrived inputs.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-50570 resides within the IPAddressBitsDivision component of the IPAddress library version 5.1.0, representing a potential denial of service scenario that manifests through infinite loop conditions. This issue specifically affects the library's handling of certain input parameters that, while not conforming to expected usage patterns, trigger problematic execution paths within the software implementation. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-835, which addresses the specific weakness of infinite loops or iterations that lack proper termination conditions, making it a direct descendant of the broader class of loop-related flaws that can compromise system availability. The reported infinite loop occurs exclusively when developers provide invalid arguments to the function, suggesting that the implementation does not adequately validate input parameters before processing them through iterative operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to applications that rely on the IPAddress library for network address processing and manipulation. The infinite loop condition effectively consumes system resources and can lead to complete system unresponsiveness or application crashes, particularly in environments where the library is used extensively for network configuration management, IP address validation, or routing table processing. The attack surface expands when considering that such vulnerabilities can be exploited by malicious actors who craft specific inputs designed to trigger the problematic code path, potentially leading to service disruption or resource exhaustion attacks. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1499.004, which covers "Endpoint Denial of Service" through resource consumption, making it particularly concerning for network infrastructure applications that must maintain continuous availability.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation within the IPAddressBitsDivision function, where the code fails to properly check boundary conditions or argument legitimacy before entering iterative processing loops. This allows malformed inputs to bypass normal execution flow and cause the software to enter an endless cycle of operations that never reach a termination condition. The library's design philosophy appears to assume that valid inputs will be provided, creating a gap in defensive programming practices that leaves the system vulnerable to exploitation through carefully crafted invalid arguments. Security practitioners should note that while the vulnerability is disputed by the vendor due to its dependence on invalid input conditions, the potential for exploitation remains significant in production environments where input validation may be insufficient or where attackers can influence input sources through injection attacks or other means.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation at multiple layers of the application architecture, ensuring that all parameters passed to the IPAddress library are properly sanitized before processing. Developers should consider incorporating defensive programming techniques such as maximum iteration limits, timeout mechanisms, and robust error handling that can detect and terminate abnormal execution patterns before they consume excessive resources. Additionally, regular code reviews and static analysis should be implemented to identify similar patterns in other library components that might exhibit similar vulnerabilities. The recommended approach aligns with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST Cybersecurity Framework, emphasizing the importance of input validation and resource management in preventing denial of service conditions. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring and alerting systems that can detect unusual resource consumption patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts against such vulnerabilities.