CVE-2024-24973 in Distribution for GDB Software
Summary
by MITRE • 08/14/2024
Improper input validation for some Intel(R) Distribution for GDB software before version 2024.0.1 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable denial of service via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/31/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-24973 affects Intel(R) Distribution for GDB software versions prior to 2024.0.1, representing a critical weakness in input validation mechanisms that could be exploited by authenticated users with local access. This issue resides within the debugging infrastructure provided by Intel, which is widely used by developers and security professionals for software development and analysis tasks. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user-provided input parameters that are processed by the gdb debugger component, creating potential pathways for malicious input to disrupt normal system operations.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper handling of input data within the gdb software framework, where validation checks are either missing or insufficient to prevent malformed or unexpected input from being processed by the underlying debugger functions. This weakness allows an authenticated user with local system access to craft specific input sequences that can cause the debugger to enter an unstable state, potentially leading to application crashes or complete system denial of service. The vulnerability operates at the software level where user inputs are not adequately sanitized before being processed, creating an attack surface that can be exploited through local execution contexts.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to development environments where Intel Distribution for GDB is actively used, particularly in enterprise settings where multiple developers may have local access to systems. The potential for denial of service means that legitimate debugging activities could be interrupted, causing productivity losses and potentially disrupting critical development cycles. Attackers with local access could exploit this vulnerability to repeatedly crash the debugging environment, making it unavailable for legitimate users who require debugging capabilities for software development and security analysis tasks.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes "Improper Input Validation" as a fundamental weakness in software design where input is not properly validated before being processed. This weakness can lead to various security consequences including denial of service, data corruption, and potentially more severe impacts depending on the specific implementation details. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which covers "Endpoint Denial of Service" through resource exhaustion or system instability, and potentially T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter usage in crafting malicious inputs.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to version 2024.0.1 or later, which contains the necessary input validation improvements. System administrators should also implement additional access controls to limit local system access to only authorized personnel, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation. Organizations should consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect unusual patterns of gdb process behavior or resource consumption that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments of development environments are recommended to identify and remediate similar input validation weaknesses across the software development lifecycle, particularly in debugging and analysis tools that are frequently used by development teams.