libssh2 through 1.11.1, fixed in commit 2dae302, contains an out-of-bounds heap read vulnerability in the sftp_symlink() function in src/sftp.c that allows a malicious SSH server or man-in-the-middle attacker to disclose heap memory contents or cause a crash by sending a crafted SSH_FXP_NAME response. Attackers can supply a link_len value larger than the actual packet data in SSH_FXP_NAME responses for SFTP READLINK and REALPATH operations, triggering a heap buffer over-read of up to target_len minus one bytes due to the missing validation of available packet buffer size before the memcpy operation.
Weakness
The product reads data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer.
Affected Software
| Name | Vendor | Start Version | End Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Libssh2 | Libssh2 | * | 1.11.1 (including) |
| Red Hat Hardened Images | RedHat | libssh2-main-1.11.1-9.hum1 | * |
| Libssh2 | Ubuntu | devel | * |
| Libssh2 | Ubuntu | noble | * |
| Libssh2 | Ubuntu | questing | * |
| Libssh2 | Ubuntu | resolute | * |
| Libssh2 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Potential Mitigations
- Assume all input is malicious. Use an “accept known good” input validation strategy, i.e., use a list of acceptable inputs that strictly conform to specifications. Reject any input that does not strictly conform to specifications, or transform it into something that does.
- When performing input validation, consider all potentially relevant properties, including length, type of input, the full range of acceptable values, missing or extra inputs, syntax, consistency across related fields, and conformance to business rules. As an example of business rule logic, “boat” may be syntactically valid because it only contains alphanumeric characters, but it is not valid if the input is only expected to contain colors such as “red” or “blue.”
- Do not rely exclusively on looking for malicious or malformed inputs. This is likely to miss at least one undesirable input, especially if the code’s environment changes. This can give attackers enough room to bypass the intended validation. However, denylists can be useful for detecting potential attacks or determining which inputs are so malformed that they should be rejected outright.
- To reduce the likelihood of introducing an out-of-bounds read, ensure that you validate and ensure correct calculations for any length argument, buffer size calculation, or offset. Be especially careful of relying on a sentinel (i.e. special character such as NUL) in untrusted inputs.