OpenSSL up to 1.0.2zf/1.1.1s/3.0.7 ASN.1 Data BIO_new_NDEF use after free

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in OpenSSL up to 1.0.2zf/1.1.1s/3.0.7. It has been declared as problematic. Affected by this vulnerability is the function BIO_new_NDEF of the component ASN.1 Data Handler. Such manipulation leads to use after free. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2023-0215. The attack can be launched remotely. No exploit exists. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in OpenSSL up to 1.0.2zf/1.1.1s/3.0.7 (Network Encryption Software) and classified as problematic. Affected by this issue is the function BIO_new_NDEF of the component ASN.1 Data Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

The public API function BIO_new_NDEF is a helper function used for streaming ASN.1 data via a BIO. It is primarily used internally to OpenSSL to support the SMIME, CMS and PKCS7 streaming capabilities, but may also be called directly by end user applications. The function receives a BIO from the caller, prepends a new BIO_f_asn1 filter BIO onto the front of it to form a BIO chain, and then returns the new head of the BIO chain to the caller. Under certain conditions, for example if a CMS recipient public key is invalid, the new filter BIO is freed and the function returns a NULL result indicating a failure. However, in this case, the BIO chain is not properly cleaned up and the BIO passed by the caller still retains internal pointers to the previously freed filter BIO. If the caller then goes on to call BIO_pop() on the BIO then a use-after-free will occur. This will most likely result in a crash. This scenario occurs directly in the internal function B64_write_ASN1() which may cause BIO_new_NDEF() to be called and will subsequently call BIO_pop() on the BIO. This internal function is in turn called by the public API functions PEM_write_bio_ASN1_stream, PEM_write_bio_CMS_stream, PEM_write_bio_PKCS7_stream, SMIME_write_ASN1, SMIME_write_CMS and SMIME_write_PKCS7. Other public API functions that may be impacted by this include i2d_ASN1_bio_stream, BIO_new_CMS, BIO_new_PKCS7, i2d_CMS_bio_stream and i2d_PKCS7_bio_stream. The OpenSSL cms and smime command line applications are similarly affected.

The weakness was disclosed 02/07/2023. The advisory is shared for download at openssl.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2023-0215. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $5k-$25k (estimation calculated on 11/05/2025).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 211573 (Oracle Linux 9 : openssl / and / openssl-fips-provider (ELSA-2024-9333)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 1.0.2zg, 1.1.1t or 3.0.8 eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (211573). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Productinfo

Type

• Network Encryption Software

Name

• OpenSSL

Version

• 1.0.2za
• 1.0.2zb
• 1.0.2zc
• 1.0.2zd
• 1.0.2ze
• 1.0.2zf
• 1.1.1
• 1.1.1a
• 1.1.1b
• 1.1.1c
• 1.1.1d
• 1.1.1e
• 1.1.1f
• 1.1.1g
• 1.1.1h
• 1.1.1i
• 1.1.1j
• 1.1.1k
• 1.1.1l
• 1.1.1m
• 1.1.1n
• 1.1.1o
• 1.1.1p
• 1.1.1q
• 1.1.1r
• 1.1.1s
• 3.0.0
• 3.0.1
• 3.0.2
• 3.0.3
• 3.0.4
• 3.0.5
• 3.0.6
• 3.0.7

License

• open-source

Website

• Product: https://www.openssl.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

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