Mitigating CVE-2024-24575: Denial of Service Vulnerability in libgit2
Introduction to CVE-2024-24575
On February 6, 2024, CVE-2024-24575 was published, highlighting a significant vulnerability in the libgit2 library. This vulnerability can lead to a denial of service attack through uncontrolled resource consumption. The libgit2 library, a portable C implementation of Git core methods, has been crucial for developing Git functionalities in various applications. The flaw specifically resides in the function git_revparse_single, which if provided with maliciously crafted inputs, can enter an infinite loop causing a denial of service.
Technical Details
The vulnerability is identified as CWE-400: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption. The issue occurs in src/libgit2/revparse.c during parsing of user-provided spec strings. An edge-case allows a bad actor to exploit the loop condition to access arbitrary memory, potentially forcing the function into an infinite loop. This could lead to exhaustion of resources on the affected application, making it unresponsive.
The CVSS v3.1 score for this vulnerability is 7.5 (High) with the following vector string: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H. The attributes include:
- Attack Vector: Network
- Attack Complexity: Low
- Privileges Required: None
- User Interaction: None
- Scope: Unchanged
- Confidentiality Impact: None
- Integrity Impact: None
- Availability Impact: High
Affected Versions
The following versions of libgit2 are affected:
- Versions >= 1.4.0, < 1.6.5
- Versions >= 1.7.0, < 1.7.2
Mitigation Steps
To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2024-24575, users must upgrade to versions 1.6.5 or 1.7.2 of libgit2. Both of these versions have patched the vulnerability. The following links provide the necessary updates and commit details:
System administrators and users of affected libgit2 versions should immediately apply these updates to prevent potential denial of service attacks. Regularly reviewing and applying security updates can significantly reduce exposure to such vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
CVE-2024-24575 is a critical vulnerability that can severely impact the availability of applications relying on libgit2. By upgrading to version 1.6.5 or 1.7.2, users can protect their systems from potential exploitation. Staying vigilant and promptly applying security patches is essential for maintaining a secure application environment.