This vulnerability allows for an integer overflow in Arm's Mbed TLS, affecting versions 2.x before 2.28.7 and 3.x before 3.5.2. Attackers may leverage this flaw to cause a denial of service (DoS) through the function mbedtls_x509_set_extension(). With a CVSS score of 7.5, this vulnerability is classified as high severity, indicating a significant risk to systems that utilize this cryptographic library.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately. The potential for denial of service could disrupt services that depend on Mbed TLS, leading to significant operational impacts. Although there is no known exploit available at this time, the nature of this vulnerability raises concerns about its possible exploitation in the wild.
The publication date for this vulnerability is January 31, 2024. Security teams must ensure that they are aware of this vulnerability and take the necessary steps to mitigate its effects. The urgency for remediation is high given the potential impact on availability.
For organizations utilizing Mbed TLS, immediate action is required to assess their current versions and apply the necessary patches to prevent any possible service interruptions.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-23775 is an integer overflow vulnerability in Mbed TLS versions 2.x prior to 2.28.7 and 3.x prior to 3.5.2. The official description states that it allows attackers to cause a denial of service (DoS) via the function mbedtls_x509_set_extension(). This vulnerability is classified under CWE-190.
The CVSS score of 7.5 signifies that this is a high-severity issue that requires immediate attention. The attack vector is classified as network, meaning an attacker can exploit this vulnerability remotely without physical access. The attack complexity is low, and no privileges are required to exploit this issue.
The vulnerability's impacts on confidentiality and integrity are noted as none, while the availability impact is rated high, which underscores the risk of service disruption.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability is an integer overflow that occurs within the function mbedtls_x509_set_extension(). This allows an attacker to manipulate the input to the function in such a way that can lead to a denial of service condition.
The attack vector is classified as network, indicating that an attacker can exploit this vulnerability over the network without needing physical access or user interaction. The attack complexity is low, meaning that even a novice attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability.
No privileges are required, and no user interaction is needed for the exploitation to occur. The impact on availability is high, meaning that successful exploitation could lead to significant service outages.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Risk to organizations includes potential service disruptions that could affect business operations, customer satisfaction, and overall system reliability. Organizations using Mbed TLS should be aware of the blast radius potential, as the impact of a denial of service could extend beyond the immediate service affected and may disrupt other interconnected systems.
Given the high CVSS score of 7.5, organizations must act promptly to address this vulnerability. The lack of known exploits at this time does not mitigate the urgency for defenders. The potential for exploitation increases the risk of operational impacts significantly.
Organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle to ensure continued service availability and security.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The vulnerable versions of Mbed TLS include all versions before 2.28.7 in the 2.x series and before 3.5.2 in the 3.x series. Organizations must ensure they are running the patched versions to mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
To mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2024-23775, organizations should immediately apply the latest patches provided by Arm for Mbed TLS. The versions to upgrade to are 2.28.7 or 3.5.2 and later.
If patching is not feasible, organizations should consider implementing additional network controls to limit exposure to the vulnerable components. Regular monitoring of systems for unusual activities related to Mbed TLS usage is also recommended.
For further guidance on securing your applications, organizations can leverage application security assessment services.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for signs of exploitation attempts, such as abnormal requests to the mbedtls_x509_set_extension() function. Behavioral anomalies in application performance may also indicate potential exploitation.
Network signatures should be updated to detect potential attack patterns targeting this vulnerability. Additionally, any changes to the Mbed TLS configuration should be reviewed and monitored closely.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2024-23775 lies in its demonstration of the potential for integer overflow vulnerabilities to disrupt critical services, particularly in widely used libraries such as Mbed TLS. This pattern highlights the need for rigorous testing and validation of input parameters in cryptographic functions.
Security teams should take this incident as a lesson to enhance their testing frameworks and ensure that vulnerabilities are identified and remediated before they can be exploited. Strategic defensive takeaways include the importance of maintaining an updated inventory of software components and their vulnerabilities.
For further insights into securing your software supply chain, organizations can explore our vulnerability management program and consider implementing penetration testing methodologies to identify similar weaknesses.
Additionally, organizations can review their security posture by engaging in threat modeling practices to proactively address potential vulnerabilities in their systems.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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