CVS Entry Line Heap Overflow Lets Remote Users Execute Arbitrary Code
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SecurityTracker Alert ID: 1010208
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SecurityTracker URL: http://securitytracker.com/id?1010208
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CVE Reference: CAN-2004-0396
(Links to External Site)
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Updated: May 19 2004
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Original Entry Date: May 19 2004
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Impact: Execution of arbitrary code via network, User access via network
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Fix Available: Yes
Vendor Confirmed: Yes
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Advisory: e-matters
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Version(s): 1.11.15 and prior versions (stable); 1.12.7 and prior versions (feature)
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Description: A heap overflow vulnerability was reported in Concurrent Versions System (CVS) in the processing of entry lines. A remote user can execute arbitrary code on the target system.
Stefan Esser of e-matters GmbH reported that the overflow occurs when an entry line is processed to determine if the modified and
unchanged flags apply. A remote user can reportedly cause the flawed function to be called several times, inserting certain characters
into the entry line and overwriting memory.
The vendor was reportedly notified on May 2, 2004.
The original advisory is available
at:
http://security.e-matters.de/advisories/072004.html
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Impact: A remote user can execute arbitrary code on the target system with the privileges of the CVS server.
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Solution: The vendor is releasing a fixed version, to be available shortly at:
http://ccvs.cvshome.org/servlets/ProjectDownloadList
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Vendor URL: www.cvshome.org/ (Links to External Site)
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Cause: Boundary error
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Underlying OS: Linux (Any), UNIX (Any)
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Message History:
This archive entry has one or more follow-up message(s) listed below.
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Source Message Contents
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Date: Wed, 19 May 2004 03:23:03 -0400
Subject: http://security.e-matters.de/advisories/072004.html
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http://security.e-matters.de/advisories/072004.html
e-matters GmbH
www.e-matters.de
-= Security Advisory =-
Advisory: CVS remote vulnerability
Release Date: 2004/05/19
Last Modified: 2004/05/19
Author: Stefan Esser [s.esser@e-matters.de]
Application: CVS feature release <= 1.12.7
CVS stable release <= 1.11.15
Severity: A vulnerability within CVS allows remote compromise of
CVS servers.
Risk: Critical
Vendor Status: Vendor is releasing a bugfixed version.
Reference: http://security.e-matters.de/advisories/072004.html
Overview:
Concurrent Versions System (CVS) is the dominant open-source version
control software that allows developers to access the latest code using
a network connection.
Stable CVS releases up to 1.11.15 and CVS feature releases up to 1.12.7
both contain a flaw when deciding if a CVS entry line should get a
modified or unchanged flag attached. This results in a heap overflow
which can be exploited to execute arbitrary code on the CVS server.
This could allow a repository compromise.
Details:
While auditing the CVS source a flaw within the handling of modified
and unchanged flag insertion into entry lines was discovered.
When the client sends an entry line to the server an additional byte
is allocated to have enough space for later flagging the entry as
modified or unchanged. In both cases the check if such a flag is
already attached is flawed. This allows to insert M or = chars into
the middle of a user supplied string one by one for every call to
one of these functions.
It should be obvious that already the second call could possibly
overflow the allocated buffer by shifting the part after the
insertion point one char backward. If the alignment of the block
is choosen wisely this is already exploitable by malloc() off-by-one
exploitation techniques. However carefully crafted commands allow
the functions to be called several times to overwrite even more
bytes (although this is not really needed if you want to exploit
this bug on f.e. glibc based systems).
Proof of Concept:
e-matters is not going to release an exploit for this vulnerability to
the public.
Disclosure Timeline:
02. May 2004 - CVS developers and vendor-sec were notified by email
Derek Robert Price replied nearly immediately that the
issue is fixed
03. May 2004 - Pre-notification process of important repositories
was started
11. May 2004 - Sourceforge discovered that the patch breaks
compatibility with some pserver protocol violating
versions of WinCVS/TortoiseCVS
12. May 2004 - Pre-notified repositories were warned about this
problem with a more compatible patch.
19. May 2004 - Coordinated Public Disclosure
CVE Information:
The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has
assigned the name CAN-2004-0396 to this issue.
Recommendation:
Recommended is an immediate update to the new version. Additionally you
should consider running your CVS server chrooted over SSH instead of
using the :pserver: method. You can find a tutorial how to setup such a
server at
http://www.netsys.com/library/papers/chrooted-ssh-cvs-server.txt
GPG-Key:
http://security.e-matters.de/gpg_key.asc
pub 1024D/3004C4BC 2004-05-17 e-matters GmbH - Securityteam
Key fingerprint = 3FFB 7C86 7BE8 6981 D1DA A71A 6F7D 572D 3004 C4BC
Copyright 2004 Stefan Esser. All rights reserved.
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