CVE-2023-45679 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This article provides an overview of CVE-2023-45679, covering its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

Understanding CVE-2023-45679

CVE-2023-45679 involves an attempt to free an uninitialized memory pointer in vorbis_deinit in stb_vorbis, potentially leading to a double free vulnerability.

What is CVE-2023-45679?

stb_vorbis is a single file MIT licensed library for processing ogg vorbis files. A maliciously crafted file can trigger a memory allocation failure in

start_decoder

. This can result in some pointers in

f->comment_list

being left initialized, and later,

setup_free

is called on these pointers in

vorbis_deinit

, potentially leading to code execution.

The Impact of CVE-2023-45679

The vulnerability in stb_vorbis can have a high severity impact, with a base score of 7.3 according to CVSS v3.1. Attackers could potentially exploit this issue to execute arbitrary code on affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-45679

This section details the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

A crafted file triggering a memory allocation failure in

start_decoder

can lead to uninitialized pointers in

f->comment_list

. Subsequent calling of

setup_free

on these pointers during

vorbis_deinit

can result in a double free vulnerability.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects the 'stb' library versions less than or equal to 1.22.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers may exploit this vulnerability by manipulating contents in a crafted file to trigger memory allocation failures and subsequently exploit the double free vulnerability.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to implement immediate steps, adopt long-term security practices, and apply necessary patches and updates to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-45679.

Immediate Steps to Take

Developers and users are advised to avoid processing untrusted ogg vorbis files using the affected versions of the 'stb' library.

Long-Term Security Practices

Maintaining secure coding practices, conducting regular security assessments, and monitoring library updates can aid in preventing similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and promptly apply patches provided by the stb library maintainers to address the vulnerability in affected versions.