CVE-2024-38443 in The Algorithms
Summary
by MITRE • 06/16/2024
C/sorting/binary_insertion_sort.c in The Algorithms - C through e5dad3f has a segmentation fault for deep recursion, which may affect common use cases such as sorting an array of 50 elements.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-38443 resides within the binary insertion sort implementation in The Algorithms - C repository, specifically in the file c/sorting/binary_insertion_sort.c. This flaw manifests as a segmentation fault when the recursive function executes with deep recursion patterns, representing a critical issue in sorting algorithms that could compromise system stability and application reliability. The vulnerability affects the repository's version e5dad3f and demonstrates a classic example of stack overflow conditions that occur when recursive algorithms exceed available stack space.
The technical flaw stems from the recursive implementation of binary insertion sort that does not properly handle deep recursion scenarios. When sorting arrays with significant elements, particularly those approaching or exceeding 50 elements as mentioned in the description, the recursive function calls accumulate on the call stack until system resources are exhausted. This behavior directly maps to CWE-674, which describes uncontrolled recursion leading to stack overflow conditions. The algorithm's recursive nature, while typically efficient for smaller datasets, becomes problematic when the depth of recursion surpasses the system's stack capacity, resulting in segmentation faults that terminate program execution abruptly.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple program crashes, affecting the reliability of sorting operations in applications that depend on this implementation. In practical scenarios, developers using this codebase may encounter unexpected application termination when processing moderately sized arrays, leading to potential data loss or system instability. The vulnerability particularly affects systems where stack size limitations are strict, such as embedded environments or applications with constrained memory resources. This issue can be exploited by malicious actors to cause denial of service conditions, as demonstrated by the segmentation fault behavior that prevents normal program execution.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve implementing iterative solutions instead of recursive approaches to eliminate stack overflow risks entirely. The most effective remediation includes converting the recursive binary insertion sort to an iterative implementation that uses explicit stack management or loop structures. Additionally, implementing proper recursion depth checking with configurable limits can prevent excessive stack consumption while maintaining the algorithm's functionality. Security practitioners should also consider applying input validation to limit array sizes that trigger the vulnerable code path. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability aligns with T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks through resource exhaustion, and T1588.002, which involves development tools and libraries that can be exploited to create vulnerabilities in target systems. Organizations should prioritize updating to patched versions or implementing alternative sorting algorithms that do not exhibit recursive depth limitations.