CVE-2024-38373 in FreeRTOS-Plus-TCP
Summary
by MITRE • 06/24/2024
FreeRTOS-Plus-TCP is a lightweight TCP/IP stack for FreeRTOS. FreeRTOS-Plus-TCP versions 4.0.0 through 4.1.0 contain a buffer over-read issue in the DNS Response Parser when parsing domain names in a DNS response. A carefully crafted DNS response with domain name length value greater than the actual domain name length, could cause the parser to read beyond the DNS response buffer. This issue affects applications using DNS functionality of the FreeRTOS-Plus-TCP stack. Applications that do not use DNS functionality are not affected, even when the DNS functionality is enabled. This vulnerability has been patched in version 4.1.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-38373 resides within the FreeRTOS-Plus-TCP TCP/IP stack implementation, specifically targeting the DNS response parser component. This issue affects versions 4.0.0 through 4.1.0 of the software library that provides TCP/IP networking capabilities for FreeRTOS-based embedded systems. The flaw manifests as a buffer over-read condition that occurs during the parsing of domain names within DNS responses, representing a critical security concern for IoT and embedded device applications that rely on DNS resolution functionality. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of domain name length fields within DNS response packets, creating a scenario where maliciously crafted DNS responses can trigger unauthorized memory access patterns.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the DNS response parser's handling of domain name length values that exceed the actual domain name content within the DNS response buffer. When a DNS response contains a domain name length field indicating a longer domain name than what is actually present in the buffer, the parser attempts to read beyond the allocated memory boundaries. This over-read behavior can result in accessing uninitialized memory regions, potentially exposing sensitive data or causing application instability. The flaw specifically impacts the parsing logic that processes domain name compression pointers and labels within DNS response packets, where the parser fails to validate that the declared length of domain names corresponds to actual available buffer space. This issue falls under the CWE-129 weakness category, which encompasses improper validation of length values that can lead to buffer overflows and related memory safety issues.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-38373 extends significantly within embedded systems environments where FreeRTOS-Plus-TCP is deployed, particularly affecting IoT devices, industrial control systems, and other resource-constrained platforms that utilize DNS resolution. Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious DNS responses that trigger the over-read condition, potentially leading to information disclosure, denial of service, or in some cases, arbitrary code execution depending on the memory layout of affected systems. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning for networked embedded devices that may be exposed to untrusted DNS servers or networks, as these systems could be compromised through DNS cache poisoning or man-in-the-middle attacks that leverage this parsing flaw. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1071.004 Application Layer Protocol: DNS, where adversaries could use DNS-based attacks to exploit memory corruption vulnerabilities in network stack implementations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-38373 primarily involve upgrading to FreeRTOS-Plus-TCP version 4.1.1, which contains the necessary patches to address the buffer over-read condition in the DNS response parser. Organizations should prioritize updating their embedded systems firmware and software components to eliminate exposure to this vulnerability. Additional protective measures include implementing DNS security measures such as DNSSEC validation, network segmentation to limit exposure to untrusted DNS servers, and monitoring for anomalous DNS traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation in embedded network stack implementations and underscores the need for comprehensive security testing of critical infrastructure components. System administrators should also consider implementing network-level protections such as DNS filtering and monitoring to detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability.