CVE-2012-6089: Buffer Overflow
Changelog for pl-6.2.5 reads:
FIXED: Possible buffer overrun in patch canonisation code. Pushes pointers on an automatic array without checking for overflow. Can be used for DoS attacks. Will be extremely hard to make it execute arbitrary code.
SECURITY: Possible buffer overflows when expanding file-names with long paths. Affects expandfilename/2. Can lead to crashes (DoS attacks) and possibly execution of arbitrary code if an attacker can control the names of the files searched for, e.g., if expandfilename/2 is used in a directory to which an attacker can upload files for which he can control the name.
These fixes are implemented by upstream commits:
From a9a6fc8a2a9cf3b9154b490a4b1ffaa8be4d723c Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Jan Wielemaker <J.Wielemaker.nl> Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2012 18:13:17 +0100 Subject: [PATCH] FIXED: Possible buffer overrun in patch canonisation code.
Pushes pointers on an automatic array without checking for overflow. Can be used for DoS attacks. Will be extremely hard to make it execute arbitrary code.
From b2c88972e7515ada025e97e7d3ce3e34f81cf33e Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Jan Wielemaker <J.Wielemaker.nl> Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2012 17:29:37 +0100 Subject: [PATCH] SECURITY: Possible buffer overflows when expanding file-names with long paths. Affects expandfilename/2.
Can lead to crashes (DoS attacks) and possibly execution of arbitrary code if an attacker can control the names of the files searched for, e.g., if expandfilename/2 is used in a directory to which an attacker can upload files for which he can control the name.
I believe the vulnerabilities exist in older pl.
Other sources
Multiple stack-based buffer overflows in the canoniseFileName function in os/pl-os.c in SWI-Prolog before 6.2.5 and 6.3.x before 6.3.7 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted filename.
— MITRE
Affected Software
Remediation
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2012-6089?
The severity of CVE-2012-6089 is medium due to the potential for denial-of-service attacks rather than arbitrary code execution.
How do I fix CVE-2012-6089?
To fix CVE-2012-6089, upgrade to SWI-Prolog version 6.3.7 or later.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2012-6089?
CVE-2012-6089 affects SWI-Prolog versions up to 6.2.5 and earlier.
Can CVE-2012-6089 lead to remote code execution?
CVE-2012-6089 is primarily a denial-of-service vulnerability and is extremely hard to exploit for arbitrary code execution.
What type of attack can CVE-2012-6089 enable?
CVE-2012-6089 can enable denial-of-service attacks due to a possible buffer overrun.