CVE-2024-5564 in libndp
Summary
by MITRE • 05/31/2024
A vulnerability was found in libndp. This flaw allows a local malicious user to cause a buffer overflow in NetworkManager, triggered by sending a malformed IPv6 router advertisement packet. This issue occurred as libndp was not correctly validating the route length information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-5564 resides within the libndp library, a critical component responsible for handling Neighbor Discovery Protocol operations in IPv6 networks. This flaw represents a significant security risk as it enables local attackers to exploit a buffer overflow condition within NetworkManager, the system's network configuration daemon. The vulnerability specifically manifests when NetworkManager processes malformed IPv6 router advertisement packets, which are typically used by routers to advertise their presence and network configuration parameters to neighboring devices. The root cause of this issue stems from inadequate validation mechanisms within libndp, particularly concerning the route length information field in IPv6 packets. This validation failure allows an attacker to craft specially crafted packets that exceed the expected buffer boundaries, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system instability.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of IPv6 router advertisement packets, which follow the standard Neighbor Discovery Protocol format defined in RFC 4862. When NetworkManager receives these packets, it relies on libndp to parse and validate the information contained within them. The buffer overflow occurs because libndp fails to properly validate the route length field, which specifies the number of route prefix entries that follow in the packet. An attacker can craft a packet with an inflated route length value that exceeds the actual buffer capacity allocated for processing these routes. This validation gap creates a classic buffer overflow condition where the program attempts to write data beyond the allocated memory space, potentially overwriting adjacent memory regions including return addresses, function pointers, or other critical control data structures. The flaw operates at the intersection of network protocol handling and memory management, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through normal network operations without requiring elevated privileges beyond local access.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-5564 extends beyond simple system crashes or hangs, as it presents a potential pathway for privilege escalation and persistent system compromise. When exploited successfully, this vulnerability can enable a local malicious user to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the NetworkManager process, which typically runs with elevated permissions to manage network interfaces and configurations. The attack surface is particularly concerning in environments where NetworkManager is actively processing network traffic or where automated network discovery mechanisms are enabled. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of improper input validation in network protocol handlers. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique through exploitation of software vulnerabilities, specifically targeting system services that manage network configurations and communications. Organizations running systems with active IPv6 network management capabilities are particularly vulnerable, as the attack requires only local access to send malicious packets rather than remote network access, making it more easily exploitable in environments where local users have access to network interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-5564 should prioritize immediate patching of affected libndp versions, as this represents the most effective defense against exploitation. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit local user privileges, particularly for users who may have the ability to send network packets or interact with network management services. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect anomalous IPv6 router advertisement traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of network access control lists and firewall rules can help filter out malformed IPv6 packets before they reach NetworkManager. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify potential buffer overflow exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis. Regular security audits of network management components and protocol handling libraries should be conducted to identify similar validation gaps that might exist in other network protocol implementations. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation in network protocol handlers and underscores the need for security testing of network management software, particularly in environments where automated network discovery and configuration management are active. Organizations should also consider implementing network configuration management policies that limit the exposure of network management services to unnecessary network access and ensure that all network protocol implementations undergo thorough security review processes before deployment.