CVE-2023-24537: Vulnerability in stdlib package - Infinite loop in parsing
Summary
CVE-2023-24537: Calling any of the Parse functions on Go source code which contains //line directives with very large line numbers can cause an infinite loop due to integer overflow. Affects golang-1.15 versions < ca305e101d89969b5cc6a812b1f12038b769aaa2. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
The stdlib package is a part of the Go programming language standard library. It provides a collection of essential packages and modules that are commonly used in Go applications. The package includes various functionalities such as file I/O, networking, string manipulation, and more. However, the stdlib package is vulnerable to an issue that can cause an infinite loop during the parsing of Go source code containing line directives with very large line numbers.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability (CVE-2023-24537) in the stdlib package arises due to an integer overflow when parsing Go source code with line directives. If the source code contains line directives with extremely large line numbers, it can trigger an infinite loop. This can lead to resource exhaustion and potentially disrupt the functioning of the affected application. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 7.5, indicating a high severity level.
How To Fix
No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.
Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →
Workaround
As a workaround, developers can avoid using line directives with excessively large line numbers in their Go source code. By keeping the line numbers within a reasonable range, the vulnerability can be mitigated. Here is an example of how to avoid the vulnerability:
// Bad practice - Excessive line number
//line 99999999999999999999
// Good practice - Reasonable line number
//line 100
Conclusion
In conclusion, the stdlib package in Go is vulnerable to an issue that can cause an infinite loop during the parsing of Go source code with line directives containing very large line numbers. This vulnerability can lead to resource exhaustion and disrupt the affected application. It is crucial to update the stdlib package to version 1.19.8 or 1.20.3 to mitigate the vulnerability. For further support on vulnerability remediation, you can reach out to DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for golang-1.15 →
FAQ
The vulnerability can cause an infinite loop during the parsing of Go source code, leading to resource exhaustion and potential disruption of the affected application.
You can use Vulert's playground (https://vulert.com/scanner) to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability. Simply upload your manifest file (e.g., package-lock.json) and Vulert will analyze it in real-time.
The CVSS score of this vulnerability is 7.5, indicating a high severity level.
Yes, developers can avoid using line directives with excessively large line numbers in their Go source code to mitigate the vulnerability.
To fix the vulnerability, update the stdlib package to version 1.19.8 or 1.20.3 using the appropriate package manager command or by manually updating the package in your project's dependencies.
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for golang-1.15.
