CVE-2024-44852 in ROS2
Summary
by MITRE • 12/07/2024
Open Robotics Robotic Operating System 2 ROS2 navigation2 v.humble was discovered to contain a segmentation violation via the component theta_star::ThetaStar::isUnsafeToPlan().
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-44852 affects the Open Robotics Robot Operating System 2 navigation2 package in the humble release version, specifically within the theta_star path planning algorithm component. This issue manifests as a segmentation violation when the component theta_star::ThetaStar::isUnsafeToPlan() is invoked during navigation operations. The navigation2 stack serves as a critical component for autonomous robot navigation, providing path planning and obstacle avoidance capabilities that are fundamental to robotic autonomy in various applications including industrial automation, service robotics, and autonomous vehicles.
The technical flaw resides in the theta_star path planning algorithm implementation where the isUnsafeToPlan() function fails to properly validate input parameters or handle edge cases during path planning operations. This segmentation violation occurs when the algorithm attempts to access memory locations or perform operations on invalid data structures that may arise from improper initialization, malformed input data, or concurrent access issues within the navigation stack. The vulnerability represents a classic memory safety issue that can be exploited to cause system crashes or potentially more severe consequences depending on the execution context and system configuration.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system crashes, as it can compromise the reliability and safety of robotic systems that depend on autonomous navigation capabilities. When a segmentation fault occurs during path planning, the entire navigation stack may become unstable, forcing the robot to halt operations or potentially enter an unsafe state where it cannot properly navigate around obstacles or reach designated waypoints. This presents significant risks in mission-critical applications where robot reliability is paramount, such as in manufacturing environments, warehouse automation, or emergency response scenarios where continuous operation is essential.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the navigation2 package to address the memory access violation in the theta_star component. System administrators and developers should ensure all ROS2 humble deployments are updated to the latest patched versions of the navigation2 stack. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and error handling within the isUnsafeToPlan() function would provide defensive programming measures that could prevent the segmentation fault from occurring. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125 out-of-bounds read and CWE-476 null pointer dereference categories, representing common memory safety issues that can be addressed through proper bounds checking and null validation. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime monitoring and error recovery mechanisms that can detect and gracefully handle such segmentation faults to maintain system availability and prevent cascading failures in robotic systems that depend on continuous navigation operations.