Vulnerabilities > CVE-2018-5208 - Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer vulnerability in multiple products

047910
CVSS 7.5 - HIGH
Attack vector
NETWORK
Attack complexity
LOW
Privileges required
NONE
Confidentiality impact
PARTIAL
Integrity impact
PARTIAL
Availability impact
PARTIAL
network
low complexity
irssi
debian
CWE-119
nessus

Summary

In Irssi before 1.0.6, a calculation error in the completion code could cause a heap buffer overflow when completing certain strings.

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 familyFreeBSD Local Security Checks
    NASL idFREEBSD_PKG_A3764767F31E11E795F2005056925DB4.NASL
    descriptionIrssi reports : When the channel topic is set without specifying a sender, Irssi may dereference NULL pointer. Found by Joseph Bisch. When using incomplete escape codes, Irssi may access data beyond the end of the string. Found by Joseph Bisch. A calculation error in the completion code could cause a heap buffer overflow when completing certain strings. Found by Joseph Bisch. When using an incomplete variable argument, Irssi may access data beyond the end of the string. Found by Joseph Bisch.
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id105626
    published2018-01-08
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2018 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/105626
    titleFreeBSD : irssi -- multiple vulnerabilities (a3764767-f31e-11e7-95f2-005056925db4)
    code
    #
    # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    #
    # The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were  
    # extracted from the FreeBSD VuXML database :
    #
    # Copyright 2003-2018 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(105626);
      script_version("3.3");
      script_cvs_date("Date: 2018/11/10 11:49:47");
    
      script_cve_id("CVE-2018-5205", "CVE-2018-5206", "CVE-2018-5207", "CVE-2018-5208");
    
      script_name(english:"FreeBSD : irssi -- multiple vulnerabilities (a3764767-f31e-11e7-95f2-005056925db4)");
      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:
    "Irssi reports :
    
    When the channel topic is set without specifying a sender, Irssi may
    dereference NULL pointer. Found by Joseph Bisch.
    
    When using incomplete escape codes, Irssi may access data beyond the
    end of the string. Found by Joseph Bisch.
    
    A calculation error in the completion code could cause a heap buffer
    overflow when completing certain strings. Found by Joseph Bisch.
    
    When using an incomplete variable argument, Irssi may access data
    beyond the end of the string. Found by Joseph Bisch."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"https://irssi.org/security/irssi_sa_2018_01.txt"
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"https://bugs.freebsd.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=224954"
      );
      # https://vuxml.freebsd.org/freebsd/a3764767-f31e-11e7-95f2-005056925db4.html
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?3a8ac75d"
      );
      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:irssi");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:freebsd:freebsd");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2018/01/03");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2018/01/06");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2018/01/08");
      script_end_attributes();
    
      script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
      script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2018 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:"irssi<1.0.6,1")) 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 familySuSE Local Security Checks
    NASL idOPENSUSE-2018-18.NASL
    descriptionThis update for irssi to version 1.0.6 fixes several issues that may affect the stability of irssi : - CVE-2018-5205: Data access beyond the end of the string when using incomplete escape codes - CVE-2018-5206: NULL pointer dereference when the channel topic is set without specifying a sender - CVE-2018-5207: When using an incomplete variable argument, Irssi may access data beyond the end of the string - CVE-2018-5208: Heap buffer overflow when completing certain strings
    last seen2020-06-05
    modified2018-01-10
    plugin id105716
    published2018-01-10
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2018-2020 Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/105716
    titleopenSUSE Security Update : irssi (openSUSE-2018-18)
    code
    #%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80502
    #
    # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    #
    # The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were
    # extracted from openSUSE Security Update openSUSE-2018-18.
    #
    # The text description of this plugin is (C) SUSE LLC.
    #
    
    include("compat.inc");
    
    if (description)
    {
      script_id(105716);
      script_version("3.3");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2020/06/04");
    
      script_cve_id("CVE-2018-5205", "CVE-2018-5206", "CVE-2018-5207", "CVE-2018-5208");
    
      script_name(english:"openSUSE Security Update : irssi (openSUSE-2018-18)");
      script_summary(english:"Check for the openSUSE-2018-18 patch");
    
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"synopsis", 
        value:"The remote openSUSE host is missing a security update."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"description", 
        value:
    "This update for irssi to version 1.0.6 fixes several issues that may
    affect the stability of irssi :
    
      - CVE-2018-5205: Data access beyond the end of the string
        when using incomplete escape codes
    
      - CVE-2018-5206: NULL pointer dereference when the channel
        topic is set without specifying a sender
    
      - CVE-2018-5207: When using an incomplete variable
        argument, Irssi may access data beyond the end of the
        string
    
      - CVE-2018-5208: Heap buffer overflow when completing
        certain strings"
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"https://bugzilla.opensuse.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1074958"
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"solution", 
        value:"Update the affected irssi packages."
      );
      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:novell:opensuse:irssi");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:novell:opensuse:irssi-debuginfo");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:novell:opensuse:irssi-debugsource");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:novell:opensuse:irssi-devel");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:novell:opensuse:42.2");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:novell:opensuse:42.3");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2018/01/09");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2018/01/10");
      script_end_attributes();
    
      script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
      script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2018-2020 Tenable Network Security, Inc.");
      script_family(english:"SuSE Local Security Checks");
    
      script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl");
      script_require_keys("Host/local_checks_enabled", "Host/SuSE/release", "Host/SuSE/rpm-list", "Host/cpu");
    
      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/SuSE/release");
    if (isnull(release) || release =~ "^(SLED|SLES)") audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "openSUSE");
    if (release !~ "^(SUSE42\.2|SUSE42\.3)$") audit(AUDIT_OS_RELEASE_NOT, "openSUSE", "42.2 / 42.3", release);
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/SuSE/rpm-list")) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);
    
    ourarch = get_kb_item("Host/cpu");
    if (!ourarch) audit(AUDIT_UNKNOWN_ARCH);
    if (ourarch !~ "^(i586|i686|x86_64)$") audit(AUDIT_ARCH_NOT, "i586 / i686 / x86_64", ourarch);
    
    flag = 0;
    
    if ( rpm_check(release:"SUSE42.2", reference:"irssi-1.0.6-14.18.1") ) flag++;
    if ( rpm_check(release:"SUSE42.2", reference:"irssi-debuginfo-1.0.6-14.18.1") ) flag++;
    if ( rpm_check(release:"SUSE42.2", reference:"irssi-debugsource-1.0.6-14.18.1") ) flag++;
    if ( rpm_check(release:"SUSE42.2", reference:"irssi-devel-1.0.6-14.18.1") ) flag++;
    if ( rpm_check(release:"SUSE42.3", reference:"irssi-1.0.6-21.1") ) flag++;
    if ( rpm_check(release:"SUSE42.3", reference:"irssi-debuginfo-1.0.6-21.1") ) flag++;
    if ( rpm_check(release:"SUSE42.3", reference:"irssi-debugsource-1.0.6-21.1") ) flag++;
    if ( rpm_check(release:"SUSE42.3", reference:"irssi-devel-1.0.6-21.1") ) 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, "irssi / irssi-debuginfo / irssi-debugsource / irssi-devel");
    }
    
  • NASL familyDebian Local Security Checks
    NASL idDEBIAN_DSA-4162.NASL
    descriptionMultiple vulnerabilities have been discovered in Irssi, a terminal-based IRC client which can result in denial of service.
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id108774
    published2018-04-02
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2018 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/108774
    titleDebian DSA-4162-1 : irssi - security update
  • NASL familyFedora Local Security Checks
    NASL idFEDORA_2018-C4E4935E01.NASL
    descriptionThis is new version of irssi. It contains security fixes for CVE-2018-5205 CVE-2018-5206 CVE-2018-5207 CVE-2018-5208 . Note that Tenable Network Security has extracted the preceding description block directly from the Fedora update system website. Tenable has attempted to automatically clean and format it as much as possible without introducing additional issues.
    last seen2020-06-05
    modified2018-01-18
    plugin id106112
    published2018-01-18
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2018-2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/106112
    titleFedora 27 : irssi (2018-c4e4935e01)
  • NASL familyFedora Local Security Checks
    NASL idFEDORA_2018-BC08435961.NASL
    descriptionThis is new version of irssi. It contains security fixes for CVE-2018-5205 CVE-2018-5206 CVE-2018-5207 CVE-2018-5208. Note that Tenable Network Security has extracted the preceding description block directly from the Fedora update system website. Tenable has attempted to automatically clean and format it as much as possible without introducing additional issues.
    last seen2020-06-05
    modified2018-01-18
    plugin id106111
    published2018-01-18
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2018-2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/106111
    titleFedora 26 : irssi (2018-bc08435961)
  • NASL familyUbuntu Local Security Checks
    NASL idUBUNTU_USN-3527-1.NASL
    descriptionJoseph Bisch discovered that Irssi incorrectly handled incomplete escape codes. If a user were tricked into using malformed commands or opening malformed files, an attacker could use this issue to cause Irssi to crash, resulting in a denial of service. (CVE-2018-5205) Joseph Bisch discovered that Irssi incorrectly handled settings the channel topic without specifying a sender. A malicious IRC server could use this issue to cause Irssi to crash, resulting in a denial of service. (CVE-2018-5206) Joseph Bisch discovered that Irssi incorrectly handled incomplete variable arguments. If a user were tricked into using malformed commands or opening malformed files, an attacker could use this issue to cause Irssi to crash, resulting in a denial of service. (CVE-2018-5207) Joseph Bisch discovered that Irssi incorrectly handled completing certain strings. An attacker could use this issue to cause Irssi to crash, resulting in a denial of service, or possibly execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2018-5208). 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 id105750
    published2018-01-11
    reporterUbuntu Security Notice (C) 2018-2019 Canonical, Inc. / NASL script (C) 2018-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/105750
    titleUbuntu 14.04 LTS / 16.04 LTS / 17.04 / 17.10 : irssi vulnerabilities (USN-3527-1)
  • NASL familyHuawei Local Security Checks
    NASL idEULEROS_SA-2019-2477.NASL
    descriptionAccording to the versions of the irssi package installed, the EulerOS installation on the remote host is affected by the following vulnerabilities : - In Irssi before 1.0.6, a calculation error in the completion code could cause a heap buffer overflow when completing certain strings.(CVE-2018-5208) - When using incomplete escape codes, Irssi before 1.0.6 may access data beyond the end of the string.(CVE-2018-5205) - When the channel topic is set without specifying a sender, Irssi before 1.0.6 may dereference a NULL pointer.(CVE-2018-5206) - When using an incomplete variable argument, Irssi before 1.0.6 may access data beyond the end of the string.(CVE-2018-5207) - The nickcmp function in Irssi before 0.8.21 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and crash) via a message without a nick.(CVE-2017-5193) - Use-after-free vulnerability in Irssi before 0.8.21 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via an invalid nick message.(CVE-2017-5194) - Irssi before 0.8.21 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read and crash) via a string containing a formatting sequence (%[) without a closing bracket (]).(CVE-2017-5356) - In Irssi before 1.0.3, when receiving a DCC message without source nick/host, it attempts to dereference a NULL pointer. Thus, remote IRC servers can cause a crash.(CVE-2017-9468) - In Irssi before 1.0.3, when receiving certain incorrectly quoted DCC files, it tries to find the terminating quote one byte before the allocated memory. Thus, remote attackers might be able to cause a crash.(CVE-2017-9469) - An issue was discovered in Irssi before 1.0.4. When receiving messages with invalid time stamps, Irssi would try to dereference a NULL pointer.(CVE-2017-10965) - An issue was discovered in Irssi before 1.0.4. While updating the internal nick list, Irssi could incorrectly use the GHashTable interface and free the nick while updating it. This would then result in use-after-free conditions on each access of the hash table.(CVE-2017-10966) Note that Tenable Network Security has extracted the preceding description block directly from the EulerOS security advisory. Tenable has attempted to automatically clean and format it as much as possible without introducing additional issues.
    last seen2020-05-08
    modified2019-12-04
    plugin id131630
    published2019-12-04
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2019-2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/131630
    titleEulerOS 2.0 SP2 : irssi (EulerOS-SA-2019-2477)
  • NASL familySlackware Local Security Checks
    NASL idSLACKWARE_SSA_2018-008-01.NASL
    descriptionNew irssi packages are available for Slackware 14.0, 14.1, 14.2, and -current to fix security issues.
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id105656
    published2018-01-09
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2018 Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/105656
    titleSlackware 14.0 / 14.1 / 14.2 / current : irssi (SSA:2018-008-01)
  • NASL familyHuawei Local Security Checks
    NASL idEULEROS_SA-2019-2595.NASL
    descriptionAccording to the versions of the irssi package installed, the EulerOS installation on the remote host is affected by the following vulnerabilities : - An issue was discovered in Irssi before 1.0.4. When receiving messages with invalid time stamps, Irssi would try to dereference a NULL pointer.(CVE-2017-10965) - An issue was discovered in Irssi before 1.0.4. While updating the internal nick list, Irssi could incorrectly use the GHashTable interface and free the nick while updating it. This would then result in use-after-free conditions on each access of the hash table.(CVE-2017-10966) - In Irssi before 1.0.3, when receiving a DCC message without source nick/host, it attempts to dereference a NULL pointer. Thus, remote IRC servers can cause a crash.(CVE-2017-9468) - In Irssi before 1.0.3, when receiving certain incorrectly quoted DCC files, it tries to find the terminating quote one byte before the allocated memory. Thus, remote attackers might be able to cause a crash.(CVE-2017-9469) - In Irssi before 1.0.6, a calculation error in the completion code could cause a heap buffer overflow when completing certain strings.(CVE-2018-5208) - Irssi before 0.8.21 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read and crash) via a string containing a formatting sequence (%[) without a closing bracket (]).(CVE-2017-5356) - The nickcmp function in Irssi before 0.8.21 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and crash) via a message without a nick.(CVE-2017-5193) - Use-after-free vulnerability in Irssi before 0.8.21 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via an invalid nick message.(CVE-2017-5194) - When the channel topic is set without specifying a sender, Irssi before 1.0.6 may dereference a NULL pointer.(CVE-2018-5206) - When using an incomplete variable argument, Irssi before 1.0.6 may access data beyond the end of the string.(CVE-2018-5207) - When using incomplete escape codes, Irssi before 1.0.6 may access data beyond the end of the string.(CVE-2018-5205) Note that Tenable Network Security has extracted the preceding description block directly from the EulerOS security advisory. Tenable has attempted to automatically clean and format it as much as possible without introducing additional issues.
    last seen2020-05-08
    modified2019-12-18
    plugin id132130
    published2019-12-18
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2019-2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/132130
    titleEulerOS 2.0 SP3 : irssi (EulerOS-SA-2019-2595)