CVE-2024-20041 in MT2713
Summary
by MITRE • 04/01/2024
In da, there is a possible out of bounds read due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to local information disclosure with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Patch ID: ALPS08541746; Issue ID: ALPS08541746.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-20041 resides within the da component where a critical out-of-bounds read condition exists due to insufficient input validation and missing bounds checking mechanisms. This flaw represents a classic software security weakness that allows unauthorized data access through memory manipulation techniques. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the da process handles input data without proper boundary validation, creating opportunities for attackers to read memory locations beyond the intended buffer limits. Such memory access violations typically occur when developers fail to implement adequate input sanitization or when buffer size calculations do not account for potential overflow conditions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires system execution privileges, indicating that an attacker must already possess elevated access to the target system before attempting to leverage this memory flaw. This requirement significantly reduces the attack surface compared to vulnerabilities that can be exploited through user interaction or network-based attacks. However, the impact remains severe as the out-of-bounds read could potentially expose sensitive system information, configuration details, or credential data stored in memory. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-129, which addresses insufficient bounds checking in software implementations, and represents a direct violation of secure coding practices that mandate proper input validation and memory boundary enforcement.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the read operation could potentially expose kernel memory regions, process credentials, or cryptographic keys that remain accessible to processes with system privileges. Attackers could leverage this information to perform further exploitation attempts, potentially escalating privileges or gaining deeper system access. The absence of user interaction requirements means that exploitation can occur automatically once the attacker has system-level access, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where privilege escalation is already possible. This flaw demonstrates the critical importance of memory safety in system-level components and highlights the need for comprehensive code reviews and static analysis tools that can detect such boundary condition issues.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-20041 should focus on implementing proper bounds checking mechanisms within the da component, including input validation routines and memory access boundary enforcement. The patch ID ALPS08541746 indicates that a specific fix has been developed and deployed to address this issue, which likely involves adding proper buffer size validation and implementing robust memory access controls. Organizations should prioritize applying this patch immediately to all affected systems, particularly those running da processes with system privileges. Additionally, implementing runtime protection mechanisms such as address space layout randomization and stack canaries can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. The vulnerability's characteristics also emphasize the importance of adhering to secure coding standards and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar boundary condition flaws that could exist in other system components. This issue demonstrates the ongoing need for comprehensive security testing practices that include memory safety validation as part of the development lifecycle, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.003 for command and scripting interpreter usage in exploitation scenarios.