CVE-2023-30463 : Security Advisory and Response

Altran picoTCP through 1.7.0 allows memory corruption (and subsequent denial of service) because of an integer overflow in pico_ipv6_alloc when processing large ICMPv6 packets. This affects installations with Ethernet support in which a packet size greater than 65495 may occur.

Understanding CVE-2023-30463

This article provides insights into the vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-30463 affecting Altran picoTCP through version 1.7.0, leading to memory corruption and denial of service due to an integer overflow.

What is CVE-2023-30463?

CVE-2023-30463 is a security vulnerability in Altran picoTCP versions up to 1.7.0 that enables memory corruption through an integer overflow during the processing of large ICMPv6 packets. This flaw can result in denial of service on systems with Ethernet support, specifically when the packet size exceeds 65495.

The Impact of CVE-2023-30463

The impact of this CVE lies in the potential for threat actors to exploit the memory corruption issue, leading to a denial of service condition. Systems running affected versions of Altran picoTCP are at risk of being disrupted by malicious efforts leveraging large ICMPv6 packets.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-30463

This section delves into the technical aspects of CVE-2023-30463, outlining the vulnerability description, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from an integer overflow in pico_ipv6_alloc within Altran picoTCP versions up to 1.7.0, allowing threat actors to trigger memory corruption by sending large ICMPv6 packets. This can lead to a denial of service condition on systems with Ethernet support.

Affected Systems and Versions

All installations of Altran picoTCP up to version 1.7.0 with Ethernet support are vulnerable to CVE-2023-30463. Systems using these versions may face the risk of memory corruption and subsequent denial of service if exposed to large ICMPv6 packets.

Exploitation Mechanism

Threat actors can exploit this vulnerability by crafting and sending oversized ICMPv6 packets to systems running the affected versions of Altran picoTCP. This triggers the integer overflow in pico_ipv6_alloc, leading to memory corruption and potential service disruption.

Mitigation and Prevention

To protect systems from the risks associated with CVE-2023-30463, immediate steps, as well as long-term security practices including patching and updates, are crucial.

Immediate Steps to Take

System administrators are advised to monitor traffic for unusually large ICMPv6 packets and consider filtering or blocking such packets temporarily as a quick mitigation measure. Updating to a patched version of Altran picoTCP is essential to address the underlying vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

In the long term, organizations should maintain regular security patching practices, stay informed about software vulnerabilities, and implement network monitoring solutions to detect and respond to potential threats promptly.

Patching and Updates

Altran has released patches addressing the integer overflow vulnerability in picoTCP. Users are strongly recommended to update their installations to version 1.7.1 or later to mitigate the risk of memory corruption and denial of service due to large ICMPv6 packets.