CVE-2023-45230: Buffer Overflow Vulnerability in EDK2’s Network Package

Overview

Cybersecurity is an ever-evolving field, with new vulnerabilities popping up regularly. One such vulnerability, CVE-2023-45230, affects EDK2’s Network Package and has a significant impact on the Confidentiality, Integrity, and/or Availability (CIA) of the systems it affects. This vulnerability is particularly concerning as it could lead to unauthorized access and potential data leakage or system compromise.
The affected software, EDK2, is widely used in the development of UEFI firmware, which means a large number of systems could potentially be at risk. In this article, we will delve into the details of this vulnerability, discuss how it works, and provide mitigation guidance.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2023-45230
Severity: High (8.3/10)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

EDK2 | All versions prior to patch

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability arises from a buffer overflow condition in the DHCPv6 client when processing a long server ID option. An attacker can craft a malicious DHCPv6 response packet with an overly long server ID option, causing a buffer overflow in the client. This overflow can be exploited to execute arbitrary code, potentially leading to unauthorized system access, data leakage, or even a system compromise.

Conceptual Example Code

Here is a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited using a crafted DHCPv6 packet:

POST /dhcpv6/client HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/dhcpv6
{ "server_id_option": "An overly long string that causes buffer overflow..." }

In the above example, a malicious DHCPv6 packet containing an excessively long “server_id_option” is sent to the target system. When the DHCPv6 client attempts to process this packet, it overflows the buffer allocated for the server ID, potentially leading to unauthorized system access or data leakage.

Mitigation

The primary mitigation for this vulnerability is to apply a patch provided by the software vendor. If a patch cannot be applied immediately, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can provide temporary mitigation by detecting and blocking malicious traffic.
It’s crucial to keep systems updated with the latest patches and to follow good cybersecurity hygiene practices, such as using strong, unique passwords and enabling multi-factor authentication whenever possible. By staying informed about new vulnerabilities and taking swift action when they are discovered, organizations can significantly reduce their cybersecurity risk.