CVE-2024-25165 in SWFTools
Summary
by MITRE • 02/14/2024
A global-buffer-overflow vulnerability was found in SWFTools v0.9.2, in the function LineText at lib/swf5compiler.flex.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2024-25165 represents a critical global buffer overflow condition within SWFTools version 0.9.2, specifically within the LineText function located in the lib/swf5compiler.flex component. This issue arises from inadequate input validation and memory management practices during the processing of flash file format data. The buffer overflow occurs when the software fails to properly bounds-check data inputs before copying them into fixed-size memory buffers, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by malicious actors to execute arbitrary code or cause system instability.
The technical flaw manifests in the LineText function which processes text elements within swf files during compilation or conversion operations. When SWFTools encounters malformed or excessively large text data structures, the function attempts to write data beyond the allocated buffer boundaries without proper size validation. This classic buffer overflow vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and can be categorized under CWE-787, indicating out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the core compilation engine level where untrusted input from swf files can trigger the overflow condition.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes, as it creates a potential attack surface for remote code execution. An attacker could craft malicious swf files containing oversized text elements that, when processed by SWFTools, would overwrite adjacent memory locations. This could lead to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user running SWFTools, potentially allowing for complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects all systems utilizing SWFTools v0.9.2 for swf file processing, conversion, or compilation operations, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users process untrusted swf content.
From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploiting software vulnerabilities to gain access to systems. The attack vector typically involves social engineering to deliver malicious swf files to targets, followed by processing these files through SWFTools, which triggers the buffer overflow. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of SWFTools to version 0.9.3 or later where the buffer overflow has been addressed through proper bounds checking and input validation. Additionally, system administrators should implement strict input validation for swf files and consider running SWFTools in restricted environments with limited privileges to minimize potential damage from successful exploitation attempts.