CVE-2017-6949 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A problem was found in the CHICKEN Scheme programming language up to version 4.12.0, leading to potential memory allocation vulnerabilities.

Understanding CVE-2017-6949

This CVE highlights a vulnerability in CHICKEN Scheme that could result in a segmentation fault or buffer overflow due to improper memory allocation.

What is CVE-2017-6949?

CHICKEN Scheme, up to version 4.12.0, had a flaw where the size of an SRFI-4 vector allocated in unmanaged memory was passed to malloc() without proper sanitization, posing a risk of memory-related issues.

The Impact of CVE-2017-6949

The vulnerability could allow attackers to trigger a segmentation fault or buffer overflow by allocating memory with an unexpected size, potentially leading to system crashes or unauthorized access.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-6949

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

When using a CHICKEN-specific extension to allocate an SRFI-4 vector in unmanaged memory, the vector's size was directly passed to malloc() without proper sanitization, creating a risk of memory-related vulnerabilities.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: CHICKEN Scheme
Vendor: N/A
Versions affected: Up to version 4.12.0

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability arises from improper handling of memory allocation, where an unexpected size parameter passed to malloc() could lead to memory corruption and potential exploitation.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-6949 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update CHICKEN Scheme to a patched version or apply relevant security fixes.
Monitor system logs for any signs of memory-related issues.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to address known vulnerabilities.
Implement secure coding practices to prevent memory-related vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories related to CHICKEN Scheme.
Apply patches promptly to mitigate the risk of memory-related vulnerabilities.