Buffer Overflow Vulnerability in cscope
Summary
CVE-2006-4262: Multiple buffer overflows in cscope 15.5 and earlier allow user-assisted attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via multiple vectors including (1) a long pathname that is not p... Affects cscope versions < 15.5+cvs20060902-1. Fixed in 15.5+cvs20060902-1. How to fix ↓
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Background
cscope is an open-source tool used for browsing source code in a variety of programming languages. It provides a comprehensive set of features for searching and navigating codebases. However, versions 15.5 and earlier of cscope are vulnerable to multiple buffer overflows, which can be exploited by user-assisted attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and potentially execute arbitrary code. These vulnerabilities arise from improper handling of long pathnames during file list parsing, path variable expansion, and command line arguments.
Vulnerability Detail
The buffer overflow vulnerabilities in cscope can be triggered by various vectors. Firstly, a long pathname that is not properly handled during file list parsing can lead to a crash or arbitrary code execution. Secondly, long pathnames resulting from path variable expansion, such as tilde expansion for the HOME environment variable, can also cause similar issues. Lastly, a long -f (reffile) command line argument can be exploited to trigger a buffer overflow. If successfully exploited, an attacker could crash the application or execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running cscope.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
15.5+cvs20060902-1
This is the first release that contains the fix.
sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade cscopeTip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
If updating to the fixed version is not immediately feasible, users can mitigate the risk by avoiding the use of long pathnames or limiting the length of command line arguments. Additionally, it is advisable to exercise caution when opening files or directories with cscope, especially if they originate from untrusted sources.
Conclusion
The buffer overflow vulnerabilities in cscope versions 15.5 and earlier pose a risk of denial of service and arbitrary code execution. It is crucial to update to the fixed version or apply the provided workarounds to mitigate these vulnerabilities. For further assistance and support in vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
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FAQ
cscope is an open-source tool used for browsing and navigating source code in various programming languages. It provides features for searching codebases and analyzing code relationships.
Versions 15.5 and earlier of cscope are affected by the buffer overflow vulnerabilities.
An attacker can exploit these vulnerabilities by providing long pathnames during file list parsing, utilizing path variable expansion, or passing a long -f (reffile) command line argument. Successful exploitation can result in a denial of service or arbitrary code execution.
If successfully exploited, these vulnerabilities can lead to a crash of the cscope application or allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running cscope.
To fix these vulnerabilities, update cscope to version 15.5+cvs20060902-1 or later. Restart any running instances of cscope after the update.
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