Vulnerability identifier: #VU10802

Vulnerability risk: High

CVSSv3.1: 7.1 [CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C]

CVE-ID: CVE-2018-7183

CWE-ID: CWE-119

Exploitation vector: Network

Exploit availability: No

Vulnerable software:
Network Time Protocol
Server applications / Other server solutions

Vendor: ntp.org

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

The weakness exists in the decodearr() function of the ntpq monitoring and control program for ntpd used by the Network Time Protocol due to boundary error while attempting to decode an array in a response string when formatted data is being displayed. A remote attacker who is able to read an ntpq request while the request is being transmitted to a remote ntpd server can forge and send a specially crafted response to the targeted system prior to the remote ntpd server sending its response, trigger out-of-bounds write in the decodearr() function and  inject and execute arbitrary code.

Mitigation
Update to version 4.2.8p11.

Vulnerable software versions

Network Time Protocol: 4.2.8p6 - 4.2.8p10

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External links
http://www.ntp.org/downloads.html
http://www.freebsd.org/ports/master-index.html

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Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

Yes. This vulnerability can be exploited by a remote non-authenticated attacker via the Internet.

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

No. We are not aware of malware exploiting this vulnerability.