CVE-2024-25629: c-ares out of bounds read in ares__read_line()

Published Feb 23, 2024
·
Updated

c-ares is a C library for asynchronous DNS requests. aresreadline() is used to parse local configuration files such as /etc/resolv.conf, /etc/nsswitch.conf, the HOSTALIASES file, and if using a c-ares version prior to 1.27.0, the /etc/hosts file. If any of these configuration files has an embedded NULL character as the first character in a new line, it can lead to attempting to read memory prior to the start of the given buffer which may result in a crash. This issue is fixed in c-ares 1.27.0. No known workarounds exist.

Other sources

C-ares is vulnerable to a denial of service, caused by an out-of-bounds read in aresreadline(). By sending a specially crafted request, a local authenticated attacker could exploit this vulnerability to cause the application to crash.

— IBM

Affected Software

15 affected componentsFixes available
debian/c-ares<=1.14.0-1+deb10u1, <=1.14.0-1+deb10u4, <=1.17.1-1+deb11u3, <=1.18.1-3
1.27.0-1
ubuntu/c-ares<1.14.0-1ubuntu0.2+
1.14.0-1ubuntu0.2+
ubuntu/c-ares<1.15.0-1ubuntu0.5
1.15.0-1ubuntu0.5
ubuntu/c-ares<1.18.1-1ubuntu0.22.04.3
1.18.1-1ubuntu0.22.04.3
ubuntu/c-ares<1.19.1-3ubuntu0.1
1.19.1-3ubuntu0.1
ubuntu/c-ares<1.27.0
1.27.0
ubuntu/c-ares<1.10.0-3ubuntu0.2+
1.10.0-3ubuntu0.2+
redhat/c-ares<1.27.0
1.27.0
IBM Cognos Analytics<=12.0.0-12.0.3
IBM Cognos Analytics<=11.2.0-11.2.4 FP4
c-ares c-ares<1.27.0
Fedoraproject Fedora=38
Fedoraproject Fedora=39
Fedoraproject Fedora=40
F5 Traffix SDC>=5.1.0<=5.2.0

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade debian/c-ares to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 1.27.0-1
  2. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/c-ares to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 1.14.0-1ubuntu0.2+
  3. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/c-ares to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 1.15.0-1ubuntu0.5
  4. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/c-ares to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 1.18.1-1ubuntu0.22.04.3
  5. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/c-ares to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 1.19.1-3ubuntu0.1
  6. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/c-ares to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 1.27.0
  7. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/c-ares to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 1.10.0-3ubuntu0.2+
  8. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/c-ares to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 1.27.0
  9. Upgrade

    Upgrade c-ares/c-ares to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 1.27.0
  10. Compensating control

    Ensure that local configuration files parsed by c-ares (e.g., /etc/nsswitch.conf, the HOSTALIASES file, and /etc/hosts when using a c-ares version prior to 1.27.0) do not contain an embedded NULL character as the first character in any new line.

Event History

Feb 23, 2024
CVE Published
via Ubuntu·12:00 AM
CVE Published
via MITRE·02:52 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·02:52 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·03:15 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·03:15 PM
RemedyAffected Software
Mar 6, 2024
Data Sourced
via Launchpad·11:36 AM
Description
Sep 12, 2024
Advisory Published
via F5·06:03 PM

Parent advisories

This vulnerability appears in the following advisories.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2024-25629?

CVE-2024-25629 has been assigned a severity rating that indicates potential exploitation could lead to significant security risks.

2

How do I fix CVE-2024-25629?

To fix CVE-2024-25629, update c-ares to version 1.27.0 or later.

3

Which software is affected by CVE-2024-25629?

CVE-2024-25629 affects multiple versions of the c-ares library across various operating systems and products.

4

What are the potential risks associated with CVE-2024-25629?

The risks include potential exploitation of vulnerabilities in DNS request handling, which could lead to data exposure or system compromise.

5

Is there a specific patch for CVE-2024-25629?

Yes, patches are available for various distributions, including updates for Ubuntu and Debian to resolve CVE-2024-25629.

Company

Resources

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