CVE-2023-52309: Heap Buffer Overflow Vulnerability in PaddlePaddle

Overview

CVE-2023-52309 is a critical security vulnerability identified in PaddlePaddle, a widely used open-source platform for deep learning. The vulnerability lies in the paddle.repeat_interleave function in versions before 2.6.0. Considering the widespread use of PaddlePaddle in various industries, including automated driving, voice recognition, and natural language processing, this vulnerability can have significant implications.
Through this vulnerability, an attacker can cause a heap buffer overflow, resulting in a denial of service, information disclosure, or potentially even more severe damage. The severity of this vulnerability highlights the importance of prompt patching and adequate security measures.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2023-52309
Severity: High (8.2 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: Denial of Service, Information Disclosure, or Potential System Compromise

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

PaddlePaddle | Before 2.6.0

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability resides in the paddle.repeat_interleave function of PaddlePaddle. By sending specially crafted data to this function, an attacker can cause a buffer to overflow. This overflow can disrupt normal operations and potentially allow the execution of arbitrary code or the disclosure of sensitive information.

Conceptual Example Code

An attacker might exploit this vulnerability by sending a malicious payload to the vulnerable paddle.repeat_interleave function. The payload would be designed to overflow the buffer and potentially execute arbitrary code. The conceptual example below illustrates this:

import paddle
from paddle import tensor
# Malicious tensor that triggers the overflow
malicious_tensor = tensor.creation.Tensor((1<<31,))
# Call to the vulnerable function
paddle.repeat_interleave(malicious_tensor)

Mitigation

The recommended mitigation for this vulnerability is to apply the vendor-provided patch by upgrading PaddlePaddle to version 2.6.0 or later. In the absence of a patch, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can provide temporary mitigation by blocking or detecting malicious payloads.
Please note, this mitigation advice is a general guideline. For specific environments or systems, additional or different mitigation strategies might be necessary. Always consult with a cybersecurity expert or your IT department when dealing with vulnerabilities and patches.