CVE-2023-52266 in ehttp
Summary
by MITRE • 12/31/2023
ehttp 1.0.6 before 17405b9 has an epoll_socket.cpp read_func use-after-free. An attacker can make many connections over a short time to trigger this.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-52266 affects the ehttp library version 1.0.6 prior to commit 17405b9, specifically within the epoll_socket.cpp file in the read_func function. This represents a classic use-after-free vulnerability that occurs when memory is accessed after it has been freed, creating potential exploitation vectors for malicious actors. The flaw manifests in the event-driven I/O handling mechanism that relies on epoll for managing multiple socket connections efficiently.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the read_func function where socket data structures are not properly validated before access. When multiple connections are established rapidly over a brief time period, the underlying epoll mechanism processes these connections in a manner that leads to premature memory deallocation followed by subsequent access attempts. This creates a race condition scenario where the memory previously allocated to socket structures becomes invalid while the application continues to reference it, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or application crashes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass potential security breaches and system compromise. An attacker exploiting this flaw could leverage the rapid connection flooding technique to trigger the use-after-free condition, potentially gaining unauthorized access to system resources or executing malicious code within the context of the affected application. The vulnerability's exploitation requires relatively simple network-based attacks involving high-frequency connection establishment, making it particularly dangerous in environments where the application handles numerous concurrent connections or serves as a network-facing service.
This vulnerability maps to CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software implementations. From an adversary perspective, this flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the compromised system. The vulnerability's characteristics also relate to T1595.001 for reconnaissance, as attackers would need to identify and probe the affected service to determine its susceptibility to this memory corruption issue.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-52266 primarily involve immediate patching to the ehttp library to the version containing commit 17405b9 or later, which addresses the improper memory management in the epoll_socket.cpp file. Organizations should also implement connection rate limiting and monitoring to detect anomalous connection patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of vulnerable services, while application-level firewalls can help detect and block rapid connection flooding patterns. Additionally, regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar memory management issues in other components of the application stack, particularly those utilizing epoll-based I/O multiplexing mechanisms.