Vulnerabilities > CVE-2015-3991 - Data Processing Errors vulnerability in Strongswan 5.2.2/5.3.0

047910
CVSS 9.8 - CRITICAL
Attack vector
NETWORK
Attack complexity
LOW
Privileges required
NONE
Confidentiality impact
HIGH
Integrity impact
HIGH
Availability impact
HIGH
network
low complexity
strongswan
CWE-19
critical
nessus
NVD
Published: 2017-09-07
Updated: 2023-11-07

Summary

strongSwan 5.2.2 and 5.3.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (daemon crash) or execute arbitrary code.

Vulnerable Configurations

Part Description Count
Application
Strongswan
2

Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE)

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

  • 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.
  • XML Nested Payloads
    Applications often need to transform data in and out of the XML format by using an XML parser. It may be possible for an attacker to inject data that may have an adverse effect on the XML parser when it is being processed. By nesting XML data and causing this data to be continuously self-referential, an attacker can cause the XML parser to consume more resources while processing, causing excessive memory consumption and CPU utilization. An attacker's goal is to leverage parser failure to his or her advantage. In most cases this type of an attack will result in a denial of service due to an application becoming unstable, freezing, or crash. However it may be possible to cause a crash resulting in arbitrary code execution, leading to a jump from the data plane to the control plane [R.230.1].
  • XML Oversized Payloads
    Applications often need to transform data in and out of the XML format by using an XML parser. It may be possible for an attacker to inject data that may have an adverse effect on the XML parser when it is being processed. By supplying oversized payloads in input vectors that will be processed by the XML parser, an attacker can cause the XML parser to consume more resources while processing, causing excessive memory consumption and CPU utilization, and potentially cause execution of arbitrary code. An attacker's goal is to leverage parser failure to his or her advantage. In many cases this type of an attack will result in a denial of service due to an application becoming unstable, freezing, or crash. However it is possible to cause a crash resulting in arbitrary code execution, leading to a jump from the data plane to the control plane [R.231.1].
  • XML Client-Side Attack
    Client applications such as web browsers that process HTML data often need to transform data in and out of the XML format by using an XML parser. It may be possible for an attacker to inject data that may have an adverse effect on the XML parser when it is being processed. These adverse effects may include the parser crashing, consuming too much of a resource, executing too slowly, executing code supplied by an attacker, allowing usage of unintended system functionality, etc. An attacker's goal is to leverage parser failure to his or her advantage. In some cases it may be possible to jump from the data plane to the control plane via bad data being passed to an XML parser. [R.484.1]
  • XML Parser Attack
    Applications often need to transform data in and out of the XML format by using an XML parser. It may be possible for an attacker to inject data that may have an adverse effect on the XML parser when it is being processed. These adverse effects may include the parser crashing, consuming too much of a resource, executing too slowly, executing code supplied by an attacker, allowing usage of unintended system functionality, etc. An attacker's goal is to leverage parser failure to his or her advantage. In some cases it may be possible to jump from the data plane to the control plane via bad data being passed to an XML parser. [R.99.1]

Nessus

  • NASL familyFedora Local Security Checks
    NASL idFEDORA_2015-5279.NASL
    descriptionNew upstream release 5.3.2. Fixes CVE-2014-9221 and CVE-2015-3991. 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 seen2020-06-05
    modified2015-08-20
    plugin id85561
    published2015-08-20
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2015-2020 Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/85561
    titleFedora 22 : strongswan-5.3.2-1.fc22 (2015-5279)
    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 2015-5279.
#

include("compat.inc");

if (description)
{
  script_id(85561);
  script_version("2.5");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2020/06/04");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2014-9221", "CVE-2015-3991");
  script_xref(name:"FEDORA", value:"2015-5279");

  script_name(english:"Fedora 22 : strongswan-5.3.2-1.fc22 (2015-5279)");
  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:
"New upstream release 5.3.2. Fixes CVE-2014-9221 and CVE-2015-3991.

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=1178956"
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"see_also",
    value:"https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1228819"
  );
  # https://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2015-August/164278.html
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"see_also",
    value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?a9c2b5af"
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"solution", 
    value:"Update the affected strongswan package."
  );
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:fedoraproject:fedora:strongswan");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:fedoraproject:fedora:22");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2015/04/02");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2015/08/20");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2015-2020 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:"^22([^0-9]|$)", string:os_ver)) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Fedora 22.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:"FC22", reference:"strongswan-5.3.2-1.fc22")) flag++;


if (flag)
{
  if (report_verbosity > 0) security_hole(port:0, extra:rpm_report_get());
  else security_hole(0);
  exit(0);
}
else
{
  tested = pkg_tests_get();
  if (tested) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_AFFECTED, tested);
  else audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_INSTALLED, "strongswan");
}
  • NASL familyFreeBSD Local Security Checks
    NASL idFREEBSD_PKG_55363E650E7111E5802700167671DD1D.NASL
    descriptionStrongSwan Project reports A denial-of-service and potential remote code execution vulnerability triggered by crafted IKE messages was discovered in strongSwan. Versions 5.2.2 and 5.3.0 are affected.
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id84069
    published2015-06-10
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2015-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/84069
    titleFreeBSD : strongswan -- Denial-of-service and potential remote code execution vulnerability (55363e65-0e71-11e5-8027-00167671dd1d)
    code
    #
# (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
#
# The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were  
# extracted from the FreeBSD VuXML database :
#
# Copyright 2003-2019 Jacques Vidrine and contributors
#
# Redistribution and use in source (VuXML) and 'compiled' forms (SGML,
# HTML, PDF, PostScript, RTF and so forth) with or without modification,
# are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
# 1. Redistributions of source code (VuXML) must retain the above
#    copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following
#    disclaimer as the first lines of this file unmodified.
# 2. Redistributions in compiled form (transformed to other DTDs,
#    published online in any format, converted to PDF, PostScript,
#    RTF and other formats) must reproduce the above copyright
#    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer
#    in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
#    distribution.
# 
# THIS DOCUMENTATION IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
# AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
# THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
# PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR OR CONTRIBUTORS
# BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY,
# OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT
# OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR
# BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY,
# WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE
# OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS DOCUMENTATION,
# EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
#

include("compat.inc");

if (description)
{
  script_id(84069);
  script_version("2.6");
  script_cvs_date("Date: 2019/07/10 16:04:13");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2015-3991");

  script_name(english:"FreeBSD : strongswan -- Denial-of-service and potential remote code execution vulnerability (55363e65-0e71-11e5-8027-00167671dd1d)");
  script_summary(english:"Checks for updated package in pkg_info output");

  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"synopsis", 
    value:"The remote FreeBSD host is missing a security-related update."
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"description", 
    value:
"StrongSwan Project reports

A denial-of-service and potential remote code execution vulnerability
triggered by crafted IKE messages was discovered in strongSwan.
Versions 5.2.2 and 5.3.0 are affected."
  );
  # https://www.strongswan.org/blog/2015/06/01/strongswan-vulnerability-(cve-2015-3991).html
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"see_also",
    value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?3b91b12d"
  );
  # https://vuxml.freebsd.org/freebsd/55363e65-0e71-11e5-8027-00167671dd1d.html
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"see_also",
    value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?a6006728"
  );
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:"Update the affected package.");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:freebsd:freebsd:strongswan");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:freebsd:freebsd");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2015/05/15");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2015/06/09");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2015/06/10");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"generated_plugin", value:"current");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2015-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");
  script_family(english:"FreeBSD Local Security Checks");

  script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl");
  script_require_keys("Host/local_checks_enabled", "Host/FreeBSD/release", "Host/FreeBSD/pkg_info");

  exit(0);
}


include("audit.inc");
include("freebsd_package.inc");


if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
if (!get_kb_item("Host/FreeBSD/release")) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "FreeBSD");
if (!get_kb_item("Host/FreeBSD/pkg_info")) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);


flag = 0;

if (pkg_test(save_report:TRUE, pkg:"strongswan>=5.2.2<5.3.1")) flag++;

if (flag)
{
  if (report_verbosity > 0) security_hole(port:0, extra:pkg_report_get());
  else security_hole(0);
  exit(0);
}
else audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, "affected");
  • NASL familyFedora Local Security Checks
    NASL idFEDORA_2015-5247.NASL
    descriptionNew upstream release 5.3.2. Fixes CVE-2014-9221 and CVE-2015-3991. 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 seen2020-06-05
    modified2015-08-20
    plugin id85560
    published2015-08-20
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2015-2020 Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/85560
    titleFedora 21 : strongswan-5.3.2-1.fc21 (2015-5247)
    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 2015-5247.
#

include("compat.inc");

if (description)
{
  script_id(85560);
  script_version("2.5");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2020/06/04");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2015-3991");
  script_xref(name:"FEDORA", value:"2015-5247");

  script_name(english:"Fedora 21 : strongswan-5.3.2-1.fc21 (2015-5247)");
  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:
"New upstream release 5.3.2. Fixes CVE-2014-9221 and CVE-2015-3991.

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=1228819"
  );
  # https://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2015-August/164276.html
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"see_also",
    value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?fb0d1bbc"
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"solution", 
    value:"Update the affected strongswan package."
  );
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:fedoraproject:fedora:strongswan");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:fedoraproject:fedora:21");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2015/04/01");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2015/08/20");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2015-2020 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:"^21([^0-9]|$)", string:os_ver)) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Fedora 21.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:"FC21", reference:"strongswan-5.3.2-1.fc21")) flag++;


if (flag)
{
  if (report_verbosity > 0) security_hole(port:0, extra:rpm_report_get());
  else security_hole(0);
  exit(0);
}
else
{
  tested = pkg_tests_get();
  if (tested) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_AFFECTED, tested);
  else audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_INSTALLED, "strongswan");
}

References