CVE-2024-2002 in libdwarf
Summary
by MITRE • 03/18/2024
A double-free vulnerability was found in libdwarf. In a multiply-corrupted DWARF object, libdwarf may try to dealloc(free) an allocation twice, potentially causing unpredictable and various results.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2025
The double-free vulnerability in libdwarf represents a critical memory safety issue that can lead to unpredictable system behavior and potential exploitation. This vulnerability specifically manifests when libdwarf processes multiply-corrupted DWARF objects, which are debugging information formats commonly used in compiled programs. The flaw occurs when the library attempts to deallocate the same memory block twice, creating a scenario where freed memory is accessed or modified, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system crashes. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in debugging and analysis tools that process untrusted input data, as it can be exploited to compromise system integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within libdwarf's handling of corrupted DWARF data structures. When encountering malformed debugging information, the library's internal memory deallocation routines fail to properly track allocated memory blocks, resulting in the same memory address being passed to the free() function multiple times. This condition violates fundamental memory safety principles and creates a race condition where subsequent operations on freed memory can trigger undefined behavior. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-415 as an improper free or double free condition, which is a well-documented pattern in software security that has been exploited in numerous high-profile incidents.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability, as it can be leveraged in sophisticated attack scenarios targeting debugging and reverse engineering tools. When an attacker can control the input to libdwarf, they may craft malicious DWARF objects that trigger the double-free condition during processing. This could enable privilege escalation attacks, denial of service conditions, or potentially remote code execution depending on the context in which libdwarf is used. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where debugging tools process untrusted data, such as software development platforms, security analysis tools, or systems that handle third-party binaries. The unpredictable nature of double-free conditions makes them especially challenging to detect and exploit, as the consequences depend heavily on memory layout and timing factors that vary across different systems and execution contexts.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate code-level fixes and broader system hardening measures. The most effective approach involves implementing proper memory tracking mechanisms within libdwarf's deallocation routines to prevent duplicate free operations, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through command and scripting interpreter. Additionally, developers should enforce input validation and sanitization when processing DWARF data, implementing bounds checking and memory allocation tracking to prevent exploitation. System administrators should consider applying patches or updates to libdwarf libraries as soon as they become available, while also implementing sandboxing measures for debugging tools that process untrusted data. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of memory safety practices in security-critical libraries, as outlined in industry standards such as the CERT C Secure Coding Standard's rule MEM04-C, which specifically addresses preventing double free conditions in memory management. Organizations should also implement runtime protections such as address space layout randomization and stack canaries to make exploitation more difficult, while monitoring for unusual memory allocation patterns that might indicate attempted exploitation of similar vulnerabilities.