Vulnerabilities > CVE-2014-6273 - Improper Restriction of Operations Within the Bounds of A Memory Buffer vulnerability in Debian Advanced Package Tool

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

Summary

Buffer overflow in the HTTP transport code in apt-get in APT 1.0.1 and earlier allows man-in-the-middle attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted URL.

Vulnerable Configurations

Part Description Count
Application
Debian
129

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.

Nessus

  • NASL familyDebian Local Security Checks
    NASL idDEBIAN_DSA-3031.NASL
    descriptionThe Google Security Team discovered a buffer overflow vulnerability in the HTTP transport code in apt-get. An attacker able to man-in-the-middle a HTTP request to an apt repository can trigger the buffer overflow, leading to a crash of the
    last seen2020-03-17
    modified2014-09-25
    plugin id77824
    published2014-09-25
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2014-2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/77824
    titleDebian DSA-3031-1 : apt - security update
    code
    #%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80502
    #
    # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    #
    # The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were  
    # extracted from Debian Security Advisory DSA-3031. The text 
    # itself is copyright (C) Software in the Public Interest, Inc.
    #
    
    include("compat.inc");
    
    if (description)
    {
      script_id(77824);
      script_version("1.7");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2020/03/12");
    
      script_cve_id("CVE-2014-6273");
      script_xref(name:"DSA", value:"3031");
    
      script_name(english:"Debian DSA-3031-1 : apt - security update");
      script_summary(english:"Checks dpkg output for the updated package");
    
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"synopsis", 
        value:"The remote Debian host is missing a security-related update."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"description", 
        value:
    "The Google Security Team discovered a buffer overflow vulnerability in
    the HTTP transport code in apt-get. An attacker able to
    man-in-the-middle a HTTP request to an apt repository can trigger the
    buffer overflow, leading to a crash of the 'http' apt method binary,
    or potentially to arbitrary code execution.
    
    Two regression fixes were included in this update :
    
      - Fix regression from the previous update in DSA-3025-1
        when the custom apt configuration option for
        Dir::state::lists is set to a relative path (#762160).
      - Fix regression in the reverification handling of cdrom:
        sources that may lead to incorrect hashsum warnings.
        Affected users need to run 'apt-cdrom add' again after
        the update was applied."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"https://packages.debian.org/source/wheezy/apt"
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"https://www.debian.org/security/2014/dsa-3031"
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"solution", 
        value:
    "Upgrade the apt packages.
    
    For the stable distribution (wheezy), this problem has been fixed in
    version 0.9.7.9+deb7u5."
      );
      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:U/RL:OF/RC:C");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No known exploits are available");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"false");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:debian:debian_linux:apt");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:7.0");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2014/09/23");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2014/09/25");
      script_end_attributes();
    
      script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
      script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2014-2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");
      script_family(english:"Debian Local Security Checks");
    
      script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl");
      script_require_keys("Host/local_checks_enabled", "Host/Debian/release", "Host/Debian/dpkg-l");
    
      exit(0);
    }
    
    
    include("audit.inc");
    include("debian_package.inc");
    
    
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/Debian/release")) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Debian");
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/Debian/dpkg-l")) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);
    
    
    flag = 0;
    if (deb_check(release:"7.0", prefix:"apt", reference:"0.9.7.9+deb7u5")) flag++;
    if (deb_check(release:"7.0", prefix:"apt-doc", reference:"0.9.7.9+deb7u5")) flag++;
    if (deb_check(release:"7.0", prefix:"apt-transport-https", reference:"0.9.7.9+deb7u5")) flag++;
    if (deb_check(release:"7.0", prefix:"apt-utils", reference:"0.9.7.9+deb7u5")) flag++;
    if (deb_check(release:"7.0", prefix:"libapt-inst1.5", reference:"0.9.7.9+deb7u5")) flag++;
    if (deb_check(release:"7.0", prefix:"libapt-pkg-dev", reference:"0.9.7.9+deb7u5")) flag++;
    if (deb_check(release:"7.0", prefix:"libapt-pkg-doc", reference:"0.9.7.9+deb7u5")) flag++;
    if (deb_check(release:"7.0", prefix:"libapt-pkg4.12", reference:"0.9.7.9+deb7u5")) flag++;
    
    if (flag)
    {
      if (report_verbosity > 0) security_warning(port:0, extra:deb_report_get());
      else security_warning(0);
      exit(0);
    }
    else audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, "affected");
    
  • NASL familyUbuntu Local Security Checks
    NASL idUBUNTU_USN-2353-1.NASL
    descriptionIt was discovered that APT incorrectly handled certain http URLs. If a remote attacker were able to perform a man-in-the-middle attack, this flaw could be exploited to cause APT to crash, resulting in a denial of service, or possibly execute arbitrary code. The default compiler options for affected releases should reduce the vulnerability to a denial of service. (CVE-2014-6273) In addition, this update fixes regressions introduced by the USN-2348-1 security update: APT incorrectly handled file:/// sources on a different partition, incorrectly handled Dir::state::lists set to a relative path, and incorrectly handled cdrom: sources. Note that Tenable Network Security has extracted the preceding description block directly from the Ubuntu security advisory. Tenable has attempted to automatically clean and format it as much as possible without introducing additional issues.
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id77816
    published2014-09-24
    reporterUbuntu Security Notice (C) 2014-2019 Canonical, Inc. / NASL script (C) 2014-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/77816
    titleUbuntu 10.04 LTS / 12.04 LTS / 14.04 LTS : apt vulnerability (USN-2353-1)
    code
    #
    # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    #
    # The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were
    # extracted from Ubuntu Security Notice USN-2353-1. The text 
    # itself is copyright (C) Canonical, Inc. See 
    # <http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/>. Ubuntu(R) is a registered 
    # trademark of Canonical, Inc.
    #
    
    include("compat.inc");
    
    if (description)
    {
      script_id(77816);
      script_version("1.7");
      script_cvs_date("Date: 2019/09/19 12:54:30");
    
      script_cve_id("CVE-2014-6273");
      script_xref(name:"USN", value:"2353-1");
    
      script_name(english:"Ubuntu 10.04 LTS / 12.04 LTS / 14.04 LTS : apt vulnerability (USN-2353-1)");
      script_summary(english:"Checks dpkg output for updated package.");
    
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"synopsis", 
        value:"The remote Ubuntu host is missing a security-related patch."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"description", 
        value:
    "It was discovered that APT incorrectly handled certain http URLs. If a
    remote attacker were able to perform a man-in-the-middle attack, this
    flaw could be exploited to cause APT to crash, resulting in a denial
    of service, or possibly execute arbitrary code. The default compiler
    options for affected releases should reduce the vulnerability to a
    denial of service. (CVE-2014-6273)
    
    In addition, this update fixes regressions introduced by the
    USN-2348-1 security update: APT incorrectly handled file:/// sources
    on a different partition, incorrectly handled Dir::state::lists set to
    a relative path, and incorrectly handled cdrom: sources.
    
    Note that Tenable Network Security has extracted the preceding
    description block directly from the Ubuntu 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://usn.ubuntu.com/2353-1/"
      );
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:"Update the affected apt 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:U/RL:OF/RC:C");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No known exploits are available");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"false");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:apt");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:10.04:-:lts");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:-:lts");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2014/09/30");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2014/09/23");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2014/09/24");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"generated_plugin", value:"current");
      script_end_attributes();
    
      script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
      script_copyright(english:"Ubuntu Security Notice (C) 2014-2019 Canonical, Inc. / NASL script (C) 2014-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");
      script_family(english:"Ubuntu Local Security Checks");
    
      script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl");
      script_require_keys("Host/cpu", "Host/Ubuntu", "Host/Ubuntu/release", "Host/Debian/dpkg-l");
    
      exit(0);
    }
    
    
    include("audit.inc");
    include("ubuntu.inc");
    include("misc_func.inc");
    
    if ( ! get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled") ) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
    release = get_kb_item("Host/Ubuntu/release");
    if ( isnull(release) ) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Ubuntu");
    release = chomp(release);
    if (! preg(pattern:"^(10\.04|12\.04|14\.04)$", string:release)) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Ubuntu 10.04 / 12.04 / 14.04", "Ubuntu " + release);
    if ( ! get_kb_item("Host/Debian/dpkg-l") ) 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, "Ubuntu", cpu);
    
    flag = 0;
    
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"10.04", pkgname:"apt", pkgver:"0.7.25.3ubuntu9.17.1")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"12.04", pkgname:"apt", pkgver:"0.8.16~exp12ubuntu10.20.1")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"14.04", pkgname:"apt", pkgver:"1.0.1ubuntu2.4.1")) flag++;
    
    if (flag)
    {
      security_report_v4(
        port       : 0,
        severity   : SECURITY_WARNING,
        extra      : ubuntu_report_get()
      );
      exit(0);
    }
    else
    {
      tested = ubuntu_pkg_tests_get();
      if (tested) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_AFFECTED, tested);
      else audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_INSTALLED, "apt");
    }