CVE-2024-45795 in Suricata
Summary
by MITRE • 10/16/2024
Suricata is a network Intrusion Detection System, Intrusion Prevention System and Network Security Monitoring engine. Prior to version 7.0.7, rules using datasets with the non-functional / unimplemented "unset" option can trigger an assertion during traffic parsing, leading to denial of service. This issue is addressed in 7.0.7. As a workaround, use only trusted and well tested rulesets.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-45795 affects Suricata, a widely deployed network intrusion detection system that functions as both an intrusion prevention system and network security monitoring engine. This issue specifically targets versions prior to 7.0.7 and represents a denial of service vulnerability that can be triggered through the improper handling of dataset rules containing an unimplemented feature. The flaw manifests when rules utilize datasets with the non-functional "unset" option, which represents a feature that was never properly implemented within the software architecture. This architectural gap creates a scenario where legitimate traffic processing can inadvertently activate an assertion failure, causing the system to crash or become unresponsive. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic example of incomplete implementation where a feature flag or option exists in the rule syntax but lacks corresponding functional code execution, creating a path for system instability.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs during the traffic parsing phase when Suricata processes network packets that match rules containing the problematic dataset configuration. When the system encounters a rule with the "unset" option applied to a dataset, it attempts to evaluate this non-functional parameter, leading to an assertion failure that terminates the processing thread or entire daemon. This assertion violation represents a fundamental breakdown in the software's error handling mechanisms, where the system does not gracefully handle the presence of unimplemented features within rule configurations. The vulnerability falls under CWE-691, which specifically addresses inadequate implementation of security features, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1499.1, representing the exploitation of software vulnerabilities to achieve denial of service effects. The assertion failure typically occurs in the rule evaluation engine where dataset operations are processed, and the absence of proper validation for unimplemented options creates a crash condition that can be reliably triggered by malicious actors.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-45795 extends beyond simple service disruption as it affects the reliability and availability of network monitoring capabilities that organizations depend upon for security operations. When a Suricata instance becomes unresponsive due to this vulnerability, it creates a blind spot in network security monitoring that can persist until manual intervention occurs. The attack surface for this vulnerability is particularly concerning as it can be triggered through normal traffic processing without requiring special privileges or complex exploitation techniques. Organizations running affected versions of Suricata face potential security gaps where network traffic may be dropped or the system may become unavailable entirely during critical security events. The vulnerability's impact is amplified in environments where Suricata serves as a primary security monitoring tool, as the denial of service can effectively neutralize network security capabilities, leaving organizations vulnerable to attacks that would otherwise be detected or prevented by the system.
The remediation for this vulnerability requires updating to Suricata version 7.0.7 or later, which includes proper handling of the unimplemented "unset" option within dataset rules. This update addresses the core issue by implementing appropriate validation logic that either properly handles the option or rejects rules containing unsupported configurations. Organizations should conduct thorough testing of their rule sets after applying the update to ensure that legitimate rule configurations continue to function properly. The workaround recommendation to use only trusted and well-tested rulesets represents a defensive measure that helps prevent exploitation, though it does not address the underlying implementation issue. Security teams should also implement monitoring for unusual system behavior or crashes that could indicate exploitation attempts, particularly in environments where network traffic patterns might be manipulated to trigger the assertion failure. The fix demonstrates proper software engineering practices by ensuring that all rule configurations are properly validated and that unsupported features are either implemented or appropriately rejected rather than allowing system instability to occur.