Critical · published November 22, 2022
⚠️ A NULL pointer could lead to unexpected consequences! In libarchive versions before 3.6.2, there's a sneaky oversight where an error check after calling the calloc function is completely missed! Think of it like a hotel that doesn't check if a guest has a room reserved before giving them a key. If they just hand it out without checking, the guest could end up wandering into an empty room, or worse, someone else's room! In rare cases, this oversight could allow privileged code to access and manipulate memory, leading to unexpected behavior or even code execution. Although the risk may not be widespread, it’s crucial to address this vulnerability to maintain system integrity and prevent potential exploits.
Think of it like a hotel that doesn't check if a guest has a room reserved before giving them a key. If they just hand it out without checking, the guest could end up wandering into an empty room, or worse, someone else's room! This vulnerability in libarchive stems from a lack of error checking after the calloc function, which can return a NULL pointer if it fails. This leads to a NULL pointer dereference when the code attempts to read or write to that memory address.
In rare cases, this oversight could allow privileged code to access and manipulate memory, leading to unexpected behavior or even code execution. Although the risk may not be widespread, it’s crucial to address this vulnerability to maintain system integrity and prevent potential exploits. Upgrade to libarchive version 3.6.2 or later to mitigate this risk. Additionally, review your code to ensure proper error handling after memory allocation calls to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future. You've got this! With a quick upgrade, you'll be back in the game, keeping your systems safe and sound! 🛡️
| Product | Versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| libarchive/libarchive | ≥ 3.0.0, < 3.6.2 | 3.6.2 |
| debian/debian_linux | all versions | — |
| fedoraproject/fedora | all versions | — |
| splunk/universal_forwarder | ≥ 8.2.0, < 8.2.12 | 8.2.12 |
| splunk/universal_forwarder | ≥ 9.0.0, < 9.0.6 | 9.0.6 |
| splunk/universal_forwarder | all versions | — |