CVE-2024-22189 in quic-go
Summary
by MITRE • 04/04/2024
quic-go is an implementation of the QUIC protocol in Go. Prior to version 0.42.0, an attacker can cause its peer to run out of memory sending a large number of `NEW_CONNECTION_ID` frames that retire old connection IDs. The receiver is supposed to respond to each retirement frame with a `RETIRE_CONNECTION_ID` frame. The attacker can prevent the receiver from sending out (the vast majority of) these `RETIRE_CONNECTION_ID` frames by collapsing the peers congestion window (by selectively acknowledging received packets) and by manipulating the peer's RTT estimate. Version 0.42.0 contains a patch for the issue. No known workarounds are available.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/29/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2024-22189 represents a significant memory exhaustion flaw within the quic-go library implementation of the QUIC protocol. This issue affects versions prior to 0.42.0 and demonstrates a sophisticated denial-of-service attack vector that exploits the protocol's connection ID management mechanism. The vulnerability specifically targets the receiver's handling of `NEW_CONNECTION_ID` frames and subsequent `RETIRE_CONNECTION_ID` frame responses, creating a scenario where an attacker can systematically consume memory resources on the targeted system.
The technical exploitation mechanism involves an attacker sending a large volume of `NEW_CONNECTION_ID` frames that retire old connection IDs, which triggers the normal protocol behavior of sending back `RETIRE_CONNECTION_ID` frames. However, the attacker employs congestion control manipulation techniques to prevent the legitimate receiver from transmitting these response frames. By selectively acknowledging received packets, the attacker collapses the peer's congestion window while simultaneously manipulating the round-trip time estimation, effectively blocking the transmission of the required `RETIRE_CONNECTION_ID` frames. This creates a memory buildup scenario where the receiver accumulates connection ID retirement information without being able to clear it through normal response mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple resource exhaustion, as it represents a sophisticated attack pattern that can be used to disrupt QUIC-based services and applications. The attack requires careful timing and protocol manipulation but can be executed by adversaries with network-level access to the affected system. The vulnerability affects any application or service that relies on quic-go for QUIC protocol implementation, potentially compromising the availability of web applications, network services, and communication platforms that depend on this library. The memory consumption pattern suggests that the vulnerability could be particularly effective against systems with limited resources or those running multiple QUIC connections simultaneously.
This vulnerability maps to CWE-400, which covers "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption" and specifically addresses the issue of memory exhaustion through protocol manipulation. The attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, "Endpoint Denial of Service," and demonstrates how protocol-level weaknesses can be exploited to achieve system-level resource exhaustion. The lack of known workarounds indicates that the vulnerability requires a direct library update to resolve, as the attack exploits fundamental aspects of the protocol implementation rather than configuration issues. Organizations using quic-go in production environments should prioritize upgrading to version 0.42.0 or later, as the patch addresses the core issue of connection ID retirement handling and prevents the memory accumulation pattern that enables this attack. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust resource management in protocol implementations and demonstrates how seemingly benign protocol features can be weaponized when not properly constrained.