Vulnerabilities > CVE-2012-4409 - Improper Restriction of Operations Within the Bounds of A Memory Buffer vulnerability in Mcrypt

047910
CVSS 6.8 - MEDIUM
Attack vector
NETWORK
Attack complexity
MEDIUM
Privileges required
NONE
Confidentiality impact
PARTIAL
Integrity impact
PARTIAL
Availability impact
PARTIAL
network
mcrypt
CWE-119
nessus
exploit available

Summary

Stack-based buffer overflow in the check_file_head function in extra.c in mcrypt 2.6.8 and earlier allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via an encrypted file with a crafted header containing long salt data that is not properly handled during decryption.

Vulnerable Configurations

Part Description Count
Application
Mcrypt
5

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

  • Buffer Overflow via Environment Variables
    This attack pattern involves causing a buffer overflow through manipulation of environment variables. Once the attacker finds that they can modify an environment variable, they may try to overflow associated buffers. This attack leverages implicit trust often placed in environment variables.
  • Overflow Buffers
    Buffer Overflow attacks target improper or missing bounds checking on buffer operations, typically triggered by input injected by an attacker. As a consequence, an attacker is able to write past the boundaries of allocated buffer regions in memory, causing a program crash or potentially redirection of execution as per the attackers' choice.
  • Client-side Injection-induced Buffer Overflow
    This type of attack exploits a buffer overflow vulnerability in targeted client software through injection of malicious content from a custom-built hostile service.
  • Filter Failure through Buffer Overflow
    In this attack, the idea is to cause an active filter to fail by causing an oversized transaction. An attacker may try to feed overly long input strings to the program in an attempt to overwhelm the filter (by causing a buffer overflow) and hoping that the filter does not fail securely (i.e. the user input is let into the system unfiltered).
  • MIME Conversion
    An attacker exploits a weakness in the MIME conversion routine to cause a buffer overflow and gain control over the mail server machine. The MIME system is designed to allow various different information formats to be interpreted and sent via e-mail. Attack points exist when data are converted to MIME compatible format and back.

Exploit-Db

  • descriptionmcrypt <= 2.6.8 stack-based Buffer Overflow PoC. CVE-2012-4409. Dos exploit for linux platform
    idEDB-ID:22938
    last seen2016-02-02
    modified2012-11-26
    published2012-11-26
    reporter_ishikawa
    sourcehttps://www.exploit-db.com/download/22938/
    titlemcrypt <= 2.6.8 stack-based Buffer Overflow PoC
  • descriptionmcrypt <= 2.5.8 - Stack Based Overflow. CVE-2012-4409. Local exploit for linux platform
    idEDB-ID:22928
    last seen2016-02-02
    modified2012-11-26
    published2012-11-26
    reporterTosh
    sourcehttps://www.exploit-db.com/download/22928/
    titlemcrypt <= 2.5.8 - Stack Based Overflow

Nessus

  • NASL familyFedora Local Security Checks
    NASL idFEDORA_2012-13656.NASL
    descriptionResolve buffer overflow in CVE-2012-4409. Note that Tenable Network Security has extracted the preceding description block directly from the Fedora security advisory. Tenable has attempted to automatically clean and format it as much as possible without introducing additional issues.
    last seen2020-03-17
    modified2012-09-19
    plugin id62192
    published2012-09-19
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2012-2020 Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/62192
    titleFedora 16 : mcrypt-2.6.8-9.fc16 (2012-13656)
    code
    #%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80502
    #
    # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    #
    # The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were  
    # extracted from Fedora Security Advisory 2012-13656.
    #
    
    include("compat.inc");
    
    if (description)
    {
      script_id(62192);
      script_version("1.8");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2020/03/12");
    
      script_cve_id("CVE-2012-4409");
      script_xref(name:"FEDORA", value:"2012-13656");
    
      script_name(english:"Fedora 16 : mcrypt-2.6.8-9.fc16 (2012-13656)");
      script_summary(english:"Checks rpm output for the updated package.");
    
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"synopsis", 
        value:"The remote Fedora host is missing a security update."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"description", 
        value:
    "Resolve buffer overflow in CVE-2012-4409.
    
    Note that Tenable Network Security has extracted the preceding
    description block directly from the Fedora security advisory. Tenable
    has attempted to automatically clean and format it as much as possible
    without introducing additional issues."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=855029"
      );
      # https://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2012-September/087542.html
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?e2fd40e8"
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"solution", 
        value:"Update the affected mcrypt package."
      );
      script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:fedoraproject:fedora:mcrypt");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:fedoraproject:fedora:16");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2012/09/09");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2012/09/19");
      script_end_attributes();
    
      script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
      script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2012-2020 Tenable Network Security, Inc.");
      script_family(english:"Fedora Local Security Checks");
    
      script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl");
      script_require_keys("Host/local_checks_enabled", "Host/RedHat/release", "Host/RedHat/rpm-list");
    
      exit(0);
    }
    
    
    include("audit.inc");
    include("global_settings.inc");
    include("rpm.inc");
    
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
    release = get_kb_item("Host/RedHat/release");
    if (isnull(release) || "Fedora" >!< release) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Fedora");
    os_ver = eregmatch(pattern: "Fedora.*release ([0-9]+)", string:release);
    if (isnull(os_ver)) audit(AUDIT_UNKNOWN_APP_VER, "Fedora");
    os_ver = os_ver[1];
    if (! ereg(pattern:"^16([^0-9]|$)", string:os_ver)) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Fedora 16.x", "Fedora " + os_ver);
    
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/RedHat/rpm-list")) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);
    
    cpu = get_kb_item("Host/cpu");
    if (isnull(cpu)) audit(AUDIT_UNKNOWN_ARCH);
    if ("x86_64" >!< cpu && cpu !~ "^i[3-6]86$") audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_IMPLEMENTED, "Fedora", cpu);
    
    flag = 0;
    if (rpm_check(release:"FC16", reference:"mcrypt-2.6.8-9.fc16")) flag++;
    
    
    if (flag)
    {
      if (report_verbosity > 0) security_warning(port:0, extra:rpm_report_get());
      else security_warning(0);
      exit(0);
    }
    else
    {
      tested = pkg_tests_get();
      if (tested) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_AFFECTED, tested);
      else audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_INSTALLED, "mcrypt");
    }
    
  • NASL familyFedora Local Security Checks
    NASL idFEDORA_2012-13599.NASL
    descriptionResolve buffer overflow in CVE-2012-4409. Note that Tenable Network Security has extracted the preceding description block directly from the Fedora security advisory. Tenable has attempted to automatically clean and format it as much as possible without introducing additional issues.
    last seen2020-03-17
    modified2012-09-18
    plugin id62163
    published2012-09-18
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2012-2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/62163
    titleFedora 18 : mcrypt-2.6.8-9.fc18 (2012-13599)
    code
    #%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80502
    #
    # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    #
    # The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were  
    # extracted from Fedora Security Advisory 2012-13599.
    #
    
    include("compat.inc");
    
    if (description)
    {
      script_id(62163);
      script_version("1.11");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2020/03/12");
    
      script_cve_id("CVE-2012-4409");
      script_bugtraq_id(55425);
      script_xref(name:"FEDORA", value:"2012-13599");
    
      script_name(english:"Fedora 18 : mcrypt-2.6.8-9.fc18 (2012-13599)");
      script_summary(english:"Checks rpm output for the updated package.");
    
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"synopsis", 
        value:"The remote Fedora host is missing a security update."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"description", 
        value:
    "Resolve buffer overflow in CVE-2012-4409.
    
    Note that Tenable Network Security has extracted the preceding
    description block directly from the Fedora security advisory. Tenable
    has attempted to automatically clean and format it as much as possible
    without introducing additional issues."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=855029"
      );
      # https://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2012-September/086519.html
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?c00366e7"
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"solution", 
        value:"Update the affected mcrypt package."
      );
      script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P");
      script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:POC/RL:OF/RC:ND");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"Exploits are available");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"true");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:fedoraproject:fedora:mcrypt");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:fedoraproject:fedora:18");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2012/09/08");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2012/09/18");
      script_end_attributes();
    
      script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
      script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2012-2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");
      script_family(english:"Fedora Local Security Checks");
    
      script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl");
      script_require_keys("Host/local_checks_enabled", "Host/RedHat/release", "Host/RedHat/rpm-list");
    
      exit(0);
    }
    
    
    include("audit.inc");
    include("global_settings.inc");
    include("rpm.inc");
    
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
    release = get_kb_item("Host/RedHat/release");
    if (isnull(release) || "Fedora" >!< release) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Fedora");
    os_ver = eregmatch(pattern: "Fedora.*release ([0-9]+)", string:release);
    if (isnull(os_ver)) audit(AUDIT_UNKNOWN_APP_VER, "Fedora");
    os_ver = os_ver[1];
    if (! ereg(pattern:"^18([^0-9]|$)", string:os_ver)) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Fedora 18.x", "Fedora " + os_ver);
    
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/RedHat/rpm-list")) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);
    
    cpu = get_kb_item("Host/cpu");
    if (isnull(cpu)) audit(AUDIT_UNKNOWN_ARCH);
    if ("x86_64" >!< cpu && cpu !~ "^i[3-6]86$") audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_IMPLEMENTED, "Fedora", cpu);
    
    flag = 0;
    if (rpm_check(release:"FC18", reference:"mcrypt-2.6.8-9.fc18")) flag++;
    
    
    if (flag)
    {
      if (report_verbosity > 0) security_warning(port:0, extra:rpm_report_get());
      else security_warning(0);
      exit(0);
    }
    else
    {
      tested = pkg_tests_get();
      if (tested) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_AFFECTED, tested);
      else audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_INSTALLED, "mcrypt");
    }
    
  • NASL familyFedora Local Security Checks
    NASL idFEDORA_2012-13657.NASL
    descriptionResolve buffer overflow in CVE-2012-4409. Note that Tenable Network Security has extracted the preceding description block directly from the Fedora security advisory. Tenable has attempted to automatically clean and format it as much as possible without introducing additional issues.
    last seen2020-03-17
    modified2012-09-27
    plugin id62320
    published2012-09-27
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2012-2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/62320
    titleFedora 17 : mcrypt-2.6.8-9.fc17 (2012-13657)
  • NASL familyGentoo Local Security Checks
    NASL idGENTOO_GLSA-201405-19.NASL
    descriptionThe remote host is affected by the vulnerability described in GLSA-201405-19 (MCrypt: User-assisted execution of arbitrary code) Multiple vulnerabilities have been discovered in MCrypt: A boundary error in MCrypt could cause a stack-based buffer overflow (CVE-2012-4409). MCrypt contains multiple format string errors (CVE-2012-4426). MCrypt does not properly handle long file names, which could cause a stack-based buffer overflow (CVE-2012-4527). Impact : A remote attacker could entice a user to open a specially crafted file using MCrypt, possibly resulting in execution of arbitrary code with the privileges of the process or a Denial of Service condition. Workaround : There is no known workaround at this time.
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id74061
    published2014-05-19
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2014-2018 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/74061
    titleGLSA-201405-19 : MCrypt: User-assisted execution of arbitrary code
  • NASL familySuSE Local Security Checks
    NASL idOPENSUSE-2012-713.NASL
    descriptionA buffer overflow in the mcrypt commandlinetool was fixed, when the user could be tricked into a prepared file.
    last seen2020-06-05
    modified2014-06-13
    plugin id74781
    published2014-06-13
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2014-2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/74781
    titleopenSUSE Security Update : mcrypt (openSUSE-SU-2012:1354-1)

Packetstorm

data sourcehttps://packetstormsecurity.com/files/download/118353/mcrypt-overflow.txt
idPACKETSTORM:118353
last seen2016-12-05
published2012-11-26
reporterTosh
sourcehttps://packetstormsecurity.com/files/118353/mcrypt-2.5.8-Stack-Based-Overflow.html
titlemcrypt 2.5.8 Stack Based Overflow

Seebug

bulletinFamilyexploit
descriptionNo description provided by source.
idSSV:76717
last seen2017-11-19
modified2014-07-01
published2014-07-01
reporterRoot
sourcehttps://www.seebug.org/vuldb/ssvid-76717
titlemcrypt <= 2.5.8 Stack Based Overflow