A flaw has been identified in glibc. In an uncommon situation, the gaih_inet function may use memory that has been freed, resulting in an application crash. This issue is only exploitable when the getaddrinfo function is called and the hosts database in /etc/nsswitch.conf is configured with SUCCESS=continue or SUCCESS=merge.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 5.9, categorizing it as medium severity. The risk to organizations includes application crashes that can disrupt services, particularly for systems relying on the aforementioned configuration. Organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle.
Currently, there is no public exploit confirmed, but the existence of a GitHub repository indicates that some level of proof of concept may be available. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately.
As this vulnerability is classified under CWE-416, it is crucial for organizations using affected versions of glibc to monitor their systems closely and apply the necessary updates as soon as they are available.
Vulnerability Details
The flaw in glibc is associated with the gaih_inet function, which may inadvertently use freed memory. This can lead to crashes when the getaddrinfo function is called under specific configurations outlined in the hosts database.
The vulnerability is present in all versions of glibc before 2.36 and affects various distributions including Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Fedora.
The CVSS score of 5.9 indicates a medium severity level, with the vulnerability primarily affecting the availability of applications relying on the affected library.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of memory allocation within the gaih_inet function. When the function attempts to utilize memory that has already been freed, it can trigger an application crash.
The attack vector is network-based, meaning that an attacker could trigger this flaw remotely. The complexity of the attack is high, as it requires specific configurations in the hosts database. No privileges are required, and user interaction is not needed for exploitation.
The impacts on confidentiality and integrity are negligible, but the availability impact is high, as it can lead to service disruptions.
Risk & Impact Analysis
In a production environment, this vulnerability poses a risk of application crashes, which can affect user experience and system reliability. Organizations should assess their deployment configurations to determine if they are vulnerable.
Given the CVSS score of 5.9 and the absence of known exploitation in the KEV catalog, organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle, particularly if they utilize associated versions of glibc.
The potential blast radius is considerable as glibc is a core library used by many applications. Therefore, organizations should monitor their systems and apply patches promptly.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | Yes |
Public PoC | Yes |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The vulnerability affects all versions of glibc prior to 2.36, as well as various versions of Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Fedora.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should apply the latest patches provided by Red Hat for affected systems. For those unable to immediately patch, consider configuration changes to mitigate the risk until updates can be applied. Additionally, implement monitoring to detect any anomalies related to the use of glibc functions.
More information about the necessary updates can be found through Red Hat’s advisory pages.
Detection Guidance
Monitor system logs for any unexpected crashes related to applications utilizing glibc. Additionally, look for any unusual patterns of memory usage that may indicate potential exploitation attempts.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper memory management in library functions. Ensuring that all dependencies are up to date and monitoring for vulnerabilities is critical.
Organizations can benefit from integrating comprehensive penetration testing into their security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities across their environments.
For organizations utilizing cloud environments, regular security assessments can help mitigate the risks presented by such vulnerabilities.cloud security assessments provide a framework for maintaining secure configurations.
Lastly, organizations should remain aware of emerging threats and adjust their security strategies accordingly. Utilizing services such as red teaming can provide insights into potential weaknesses before they are exploited.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
.webp)