CVE-2023-38671 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A high-severity CVE-2023-38671 related to a heap buffer overflow in paddle.trace in PaddlePaddle before version 2.5.0 has been identified. This vulnerability can have severe consequences, including denial of service, information disclosure, and potential for more significant damage.

Understanding CVE-2023-38671

This section provides insights into the nature and impact of CVE-2023-38671.

What is CVE-2023-38671?

The vulnerability arises due to a heap buffer overflow in paddle.trace in PaddlePaddle versions prior to 2.5.0. Attackers could exploit this flaw to trigger a denial of service, disclose sensitive information, or potentially cause more severe damage.

The Impact of CVE-2023-38671

With a CVSS base score of 8.3 and high severity ratings across various categories, CVE-2023-38671 poses significant risks. The availability, confidentiality, and integrity of affected systems are at high risk, with exploitation necessitating no user interaction and having a changed scope.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-38671

This section delves into the technical aspects of CVE-2023-38671.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability (CWE-120) involves a heap buffer overflow in paddle.trace, allowing attackers to perform buffer copy without checking the input size, a classic buffer overflow scenario.

Affected Systems and Versions

PaddlePaddle versions before 2.5.0 are impacted by this vulnerability. Specifically, version 0 configured via Git is susceptible to the heap buffer overflow in paddle.trace.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability's exploit scenario is categorized as 'GENERAL,' with a high attack complexity involving network access and no privileges required for the attacker.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard systems from CVE-2023-38671, immediate actions and long-term security practices are crucial.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update PaddlePaddle to version 2.5.0 or later to mitigate the heap buffer overflow risk in paddle.trace. Ensure timely security patches are applied to prevent exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement robust security measures, such as code reviews, input validation, and secure coding practices, to prevent buffer overflow vulnerabilities in software applications.

Patching and Updates

Regularly monitor security advisories from PaddlePaddle and apply patches promptly to address known vulnerabilities.