CVE-2023-24537 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting the Go programming language, specifically when using the Parse functions on Go source code containing //line directives with excessively large line numbers. This flaw can lead to an infinite loop because of an integer overflow, severely impacting application availability. The CVSS score of 7.5 indicates a high level of risk, necessitating immediate attention from security teams.
Given the nature of this vulnerability, the risk to organizations includes potential service outages and degraded performance, which could hinder development processes and affect end-users. Attackers may leverage this flaw to cause denial-of-service conditions, rendering applications unresponsive. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately.
As of the latest information, no public exploits are confirmed, and the vulnerability is not included in the Known Exploited Vulnerability (KEV) catalog. However, the potential for exploitation exists, emphasizing the need for a proactive remediation approach.
Organizations using affected versions of Go should take immediate action to update their systems and apply patches once available. This vulnerability exemplifies the importance of maintaining current software versions and monitoring for security advisories.
Vulnerability Details
This vulnerability allows an attacker to induce an infinite loop in the Go programming language when parsing source code with large line number directives. The official CVE description states, "Calling any of the Parse functions on Go source code which contains //line directives with very large line numbers can cause an infinite loop due to integer overflow." The vulnerability is classified under CWE-190, which pertains to integer overflow.
The CVSS score is 7.5, categorized as high severity, indicating that the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to its availability impact. The attack vector is network-based, and it requires no privileges or user interaction, making it particularly dangerous.
The affected product is the Go programming language from the vendor Golang, with the vulnerability impacting all versions prior to 1.19.8 and between 1.20.0 and 1.20.3. The vulnerability was published on April 6, 2023.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2023-24537 stems from the handling of line numbers in the parsing functions of Go. When line numbers exceed a certain threshold, an integer overflow occurs, leading to an infinite loop. This exploit can be triggered through network interactions, allowing for remote denial-of-service attacks.
The attack complexity is low, as no special conditions or permissions are required to exploit this vulnerability. There is also no need for user interaction, which increases the risk profile of this vulnerability. The impact on availability is high, as the infinite loop can cause applications to become unresponsive.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Organizations utilizing the Go programming language must be aware of the real-world deployment risks associated with CVE-2023-24537. The potential for service disruption due to this vulnerability can lead to significant operational challenges and financial loss. With the increasing reliance on Go for critical applications, the blast radius of this vulnerability can extend widely across systems.
The urgency assessment for addressing this vulnerability is high, given its CVSS score and the potential for exploitation. Organizations should integrate this vulnerability into their vulnerability management programs to ensure timely remediation.
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The affected versions of Go include all versions prior to 1.19.8 and from 1.20.0 to 1.20.3. Organizations should ensure they upgrade to the latest stable versions to mitigate this vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should apply patches as soon as they are released to address CVE-2023-24537. In the meantime, implementing configuration hardening and network controls can help mitigate potential risks. Regular monitoring can also help identify any unusual behavior related to this vulnerability.
For further guidance, organizations can validate their security posture through penetration testing to uncover potential vulnerabilities.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for indicators of this vulnerability, including anomalous parsing behavior, and network traffic patterns that may suggest exploitation attempts. Behavioral anomalies in applications using the Go language should also be scrutinized.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2023-24537 lies in its representation of the challenges faced in software development, particularly in languages like Go that are increasingly adopted for critical applications. Security teams should learn from this vulnerability to enhance their defensive strategies against similar coding issues.
As a strategic defensive takeaway, organizations should prioritize ongoing security training for developers, focusing on secure coding practices. For additional resources, reference our secure coding practices guide and consider implementing regular security assessments.
In addition, keeping abreast of emerging vulnerabilities in the Go ecosystem will be critical for maintaining secure applications. Organizations should also invest in penetration testing methodology to ensure comprehensive security coverage.
Finally, organizations should analyze historical trends in vulnerabilities within programming languages to better understand and mitigate similar risks in the future. For a deeper dive, refer to our vulnerability management program design resource.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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