CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2023-43632NVD status: Modified

EVE OS: Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling

CVE-2023-43632 is a critical-severity allocation of resources without limits or throttling vulnerability in EVE OS from LF-Edge, Zededa, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.9 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists version 9.5.0 as the first without the flaw, so updating EVE OS to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.66% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 52% of scored CVEs.

Patch this week

Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.

What to do

  1. Update EVE OS to 9.5.0 or a later version.
  2. Update eve to 9.5.0 or a later version.
  3. Update Edge Virtualization Engine to 9.5.0 or a later version.
  4. Read the advisory on asrg.io for workarounds and exact fixed builds.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
LF-Edge, ZededaEVE OS3.0.0 up to, but not including, 9.5.09.5.0
Lfedgeeve3.0.0 up to, but not including, 9.5.09.5.0
Linux FoundationEdge Virtualization Engine3.0.0 up to, but not including, 9.5.09.5.0

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
LowA basic user account is enough.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.19.0CriticalCNA (asrg.io)
CVSS 3.19.9CriticalNVD

Official description

As noted in the “VTPM.md” file in the eve documentation, “VTPM is a server listening on port 8877 in EVE, exposing limited functionality of the TPM to the clients. VTPM allows clients to execute tpm2-tools binaries from a list of hardcoded options” The communication with this server is done using protobuf, and the data is comprised of 2 parts: 1. Header 2. Data When a connection is made, the server is waiting for 4 bytes of data, which will be the header, and these 4 bytes would be parsed as uint32 size of the actual data to come. Then, in the function “handleRequest” this size is then used in order to allocate a payload on the stack for the incoming data. As this payload is allocated on the stack, this will allow overflowing the stack size allocated for the relevant process with freely controlled data. * An attacker can crash the system. * An attacker can gain control over the system, specifically on the “vtpm_server” process which has very high privileges.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling

The product allocates a reusable resource or group of resources on behalf of an actor without imposing any intended restrictions on the size or number of resources that can be allocated.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Clearly specify the minimum and maximum expectations for capabilities, and dictate which behaviors are acceptable when resource allocation reaches limits.
  • Limit the amount of resources that are accessible to unprivileged users. Set per-user limits for resources. Allow the system administrator to define these limits. Be careful to avoid CWE-410.
  • For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.

More Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling vulnerabilities (CWE-770)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in EVE OS

All EVE OS vulnerabilities

Recent Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling vulnerabilities

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