Stack-based buffer overflow in mcrypt - CVE-2012-4409

Vulnerability details

The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the target system.

The vulnerability exists due to a boundary error within the check_file_head function in extra.c when processing an encrypted file with a crafted header containing long salt data that is not properly handled during decryption. A remote unauthenticated attacker can trigger stack-based buffer overflow and execute arbitrary code on the target system.

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability may result in complete compromise of vulnerable system.

Affected software

How to mitigate CVE-2012-4409

Links to Public Exploits and PoC-codes

• Exploit #4455 - mcrypt 2.6.8 - Stack Based Buffer Overflow (PoC) (August 11, 2020)
• Exploit #4389 - mcrypt 2.5.8 - Stack Based Overflow (August 11, 2020)

External References

• http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2012-September/086519.html
• http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2012-September/087542.html
• http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2012-September/088281.html
• http://packetstormsecurity.org/files/116268/mcrypt-2.6.8-Buffer-Overflow-Proof-Of-Concept.html
• http://secunia.com/advisories/50507
• http://secunia.com/advisories/51010
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2012/09/06/4
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1027532
• https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=855029

Related Security Bulletins

• Multiple vulnerabilities in imipak mcrypt
• Gentoo update for MCrypt
• Fedora EPEL 5 update for mcrypt
• Fedora EPEL 6 update for mcrypt