CVE-2023-45234: Critical Buffer Overflow Vulnerability in EDK2’s Network Package

Overview

The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) system has identified a critical vulnerability in the EDK2’s Network Package. Identified as CVE-2023-45234, this vulnerability is a buffer overflow issue that exploits the DNS Servers option from a DHCPv6 Advertise message. It marks a significant risk for systems and networks using EDK2’s Network Package, posing a threat to Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability (CIA) triad. The magnitude of this threat is such that it can potentially lead to full system compromise or data leakage, putting both personal and corporate networks at risk.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2023-45234
Severity: High, CVSS Score 8.3
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: Potential system compromise and data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

EDK2’s Network Package | All prior versions to patch

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability CVE-2023-45234 exploits a buffer overflow condition in the EDK2’s Network Package while processing DNS Servers options from a DHCPv6 Advertise message. The overflow occurs when the package tries to store more data in the memory buffer than it can handle, leading to the overwrite of adjacent memory spaces. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted DHCPv6 messages, causing the system to crash or execute arbitrary code.

Conceptual Example Code

The following is a conceptual example of a malicious DHCPv6 Advertise message that can exploit this vulnerability:

POST /DHCPv6/Advertise HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/dhcp
{ "dns_servers_option": "OVERFLOWED_BUFFER_DATA" }

In the above snippet, “OVERFLOWED_BUFFER_DATA” represents the malicious payload that overflows the buffer, potentially causing a system crash or executing arbitrary code.

Mitigation

Users are strongly encouraged to apply the vendor patch as soon as it becomes available. In the interim, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as temporary mitigation to monitor and block suspicious network activities. It’s crucial to keep all systems and security solutions up-to-date to prevent potential exploitation.